Is Clarky The Last Resort?

It is joy to the ex-Fulham player, and joy to the fans, but sadly it is only because the Scot can do little else but draft a player primarily signed as cover into his starting XI. I don't believe for one second Souness sees what we all see, and puts Clark ahead of "the new Des Hamilton", Faye. It is simply because he has no choice.

Unless Souness has a late change of heart then a player who has started 153 league games for United will return to front-line action in a black-and-white shirt for the first time since May 1997.

Clark will be encouraged to support strikers Alan Shearer and Michael Owen, with Amdy Faye taking the holding role, Lee Bowyer on the right and Charles N'Zogbia tucked in on the left. With Nolberto Solano not yet fit enough to train with his fellow first teamers and Martin Brittain still recovering from the bug which forced him out of Tuesday's reserve game against Everton, Souness has decided against utilising a straight 4-4-2 formation.

Steven Taylor has recovered from the injury which forced him out of Saturday's draw with Fulham and, with Stephen Carr due to start at right back this weekend, Newcastle's manager must perm two from three in central defence.

Titus Bramble and Jean-Alain Boumsong look odds-on to start, but Taylor's performances have provided Magpies' fans with a rare positive in the face of so much disappointment.