With JJ and Nobby still out injured, Craig Bellamy suspended and Jonathan Woodgate ineligible Sir Bobby is likely to make two changes to the team that thrashed Leeds on Saturday.
Shola Ameobi will replace Bellamy alongside Alan Shearer and Olivier Bernard is likely to return at the expense of Andy Griffin.
On the bench Steve Harper will return at the expense of Tony Caig, while Hugo Viana is almost certain to get a run out at some point with the Chelsea game in mind.
Bayer are without the suspended Hanno Balitsch and the injured Jens Nowotny, Bernd Schneider, Dimitar Bebatov and Daniel Bierofka.
Likely teams
Us: Shay Given; Aaron Hughes, Titus Bramble, Andy O'Brien, Olivier Bernard; Brian Kerr, Kieron Dyer, Gary Speed, Laurent Robert; Alan Shearer, Shola Ameobi
Bayer: Hans-Joerg Butt; Boris Zivkovic, Radoslav Kaluzny, Thomas Kleine, Diego Placente; Oliver Neuville, Carsten Ramelow, Yildiray Basturk, Jan Simak, Marko Babic; Franca