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The Newcastle boss said today the club had suffered 15 hamstring injuries this season, which he described as "unthinkable". However, Souness' injury crisis is showing signs of easing a little, with Emre in contention for his first start since August and Nolberto Solano also set to make his first appearance since returning to the club.

However Kieron Dyer, Albert Luque, Titus Bramble and Craig Moore (all hamstring), and Celestine Babayaro (groin) are all still sidelined. On the other side of the fence, Sunderland midfielder Julio Arca is a major doubt for Mick McCarthy's side.

The Argentinian rates himself as 50-50 with the toe injury which has kept him out of his side's last two games, but manager Mick McCarthy is less hopeful and has insisted he will not risk losing one of his most influential players for a longer period if he is not 100% fit.

Christian Bassila will definitely miss out with a hamstring problem, while Stephen Wright, George McCartney, Colin Healy and Kevin Kyle remain on the long-term casualty list.

Newcastle (from): Given, Harper, Carr, Elliott, Taylor, Boumsong, Ramage, Parker, Bowyer, Emre, Clark, Faye, Solano, N'Zogbia, Brittain, Shearer, Owen, Ameobi, Chopra.

Sunderland (from): Davis, J Murphy, Nosworthy, Hoyte, D Collins, Breen, Stubbs, Caldwell, Miller, Whitehead, Welsh, Lawrence, Robinson, Le Tallec, Elliott, Gray, Stead, D Murphy.