But centre-back pairing Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson, who signed a new long-term contract today, both serve the second of their three-match bans while captain Kevin Nolan is also out with an ankle problem.

Goalkeeper Steve Harper (shoulder) resumed training this week while Leon Best (ankle) is also closing in on a return, but Ryan Taylor (ankle ligaments), Dan Gosling (knee) and Hatem Ben Arfa (leg) remain on the sidelines.

Team (from): Krul, Soderberg, Simpson, Perch, Ferguson, Enrique, S. Taylor, Campbell, Kadar, Barton, Tiote, Smith, Routledge, Gutierrez, Guthrie, Vuckic, Tavernier, Donaldson, Carroll, Ameobi, Lovenkrands, Ranger, Xisco.