Concern Over Butt As Kinnear Makes Changes!
The same cannot be said of striker Michael Owen, who will miss out because of a groin injury, although there is a chance he could face West Brom on Tuesday.On the bright side, Kinnear will be able to welcome back full-back Habib Beye, whose appeal against his red card against City was successful, and midfielder Joey Barton after the completion of his six-match ban.
Argentinian midfielder Jonas Gutierrez could also return from his fractured collarbone, but Mark Viduka (Achilles) and Alan Smith (foot) are still out.
NEWCASTLE (from): Given, Harper, Beye, Edgar, Enrique, N'Zogbia, Taylor, Coloccini, Cacapa, Bassong, Tozer, Butt, Guthrie, Geremi, Duff, Barton, Jonas, Doninger, Xisco, Ameobi, Carroll, Donaldson, Ranger, Danquah.
Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones has an outside chance of being involved in Saturday's Wear-Tyne derby clash with Newcastle.
The 24-year-old returned to action for the reserves on Wednesday evening, along with fellow frontman Martyn Waghorn (also knee), almost five months after damaging knee ligaments, but manager Roy Keane has insisted he will take no risks with either.Nyron Nosworthy is back in the squad after recovering from a hamstring tear, while Dwight Yorke is over his gruelling international exploits with Trinidad and Tobago and Liam Miller is back from a groin problem.
SUNDERLAND (from): Gordon, Fulop, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Collins, Nosworthy, McCartney, Diouf, Whitehead, Miller, Reid, Richardson, Malbranque, Tainio, Henderson, Cisse, Murphy, Healy, Chopra, Jones, Waghorn.