Dyer Returns To Premiership

Glenn Roeder knows the importance of three points against bottom club Charlton Athletic, but the task ahead has been made more difficult because he will have to make late checks on several key players on Saturday. But he does have the luxury of the return to action of Kieron Dyer.

Striker Obafemi Martins and midfielder Nicky Butt both left the field with injuries on Wednesday during 3-0 Carling Cup victory over Portsmouth.


Although neither is serious, and both should be fit, Roeder refuses to say they will start. Meanwhile Turkish midfielder Emre and striker Antoine Sibierski missed out in midweek and again could be absent.

Striker Shola Ameobi is expected to make the bench, as Seppi Rossi has been told he certainly starts.

Charlton boss Iain Dowie sees the return of four senior players. Darren Bent (hamstring), Andy Reid (hamstring), Amdy Faye (foot) and Souleymane Diawara (hamstring) all missed Wednesday's Carling Cup win against Bolton.

Jerome Thomas is also likely to recover from a severely bruised hip but long-term injury victims Djimi Traore (broken leg), Corey Gibbs (knee) and Gonzalo Sorondo (foot) are still sidelined.

NEWCASTLE (from): Harper, Srnicek, Taylor, Moore, Bramble, Ramage, Babayaro, Parker, Solano, Milner, Emre, N'Zogbia, Duff, Pattison, Ameobi, Martins, Rossi, Sibierski, Luque.

CHARLTON (from): Carson, Young, Hreidarsson, Diawara, El Karkouri, Fortune, Sankofa, Holland, Rommedahl, Faye, Hughes, Thomas, Ambrose, Pouso, Reid, Hasselbaink, M Bent, D Bent, Myhre, Andersen.

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