Nobby stays at home as Magpies fly to Germany

By Peter Donnelly
February 17 2003

Newcastle United flew out to Germany on Sunday afternoon but Nolberto Solano is not fit to travel, after straining his leg against Arsenal last week.

Apart from Solano and Hugo Viana, Newcastle will take on Bayer Leverkusen with a full strength squad. Expect Jermaine Jenas to fill in for Solano on the right and Gary Speed to partner Keiron Dyer in the middle of the park, with Laurent Robert completing the midfield four.

The defence should be un-changed from the Arsenal game, with Bernard at left-back, Bramble and O'Brien at centre-half and Hughes at right-back.

Upfront trio Shola Ameobi, Lomana LuaLua and Carl Cort will battle it out for places but Shola and LuaLua will be the most likely play together.