Newcastle vs FK Ventspils

By Nick Raynor
August 24 2006

Team news ahead of Newcastle’s second leg UEFA Cup qualifying fixture against FK Ventspils. Newcastle go into this leg 1-0 ahead.

Steve Harper will get a rare start after Shay Given is out with a back injury.

 

Given only made it through the Wigan game after having pain-numbing injections, but medical staff at Newcastle believe this would be one game too many.

 

Tim Krul is expected to start on the bench.

 

Roeder however, is still confident having Steve Harper between the sticks.

 

Roeder said:

 

"I'm very happy to have a number two as good as Stevie Harper.

 

“Shay pulled a small muscle in his back in the first game (against Ventspils).

 

“We got it to a level acceptable to face Wigan, but the medical team said it would be too much expecting him to play on Thursday and Sunday.

 

"There is no doubt about him being available for Sunday with a longer period to recover, but there is no better number two than Stevie Harper."

 

Nicky Butt is back in contention after suffering migraines, but Ameobi (hamstring and hip) and Moore (knee) are unlikely to feature.

 

Martins is not expected to sign intime.

 

Glenn Roeder is not underestimating FK Ventspils and knows Newcastle must win tonight.

 

Roeder said:

 

"Players can raise their game when they have to, and they had to against us in Latvia.

 

"I'm sure they'll raise their game again. We have to be ready for that."

 

Newcastle (from): Harper, Krul, Carr, Ramage, Bramble, Moore (doubt), Taylor, Babayaro, Parker, Emre, Solano, Duff, Butt, N'Zogbia, Milner, O'Brien, Pattison, Ameobi (doubt), Luque.