Toon casualties pile up

23 May 2009 12:46
Newcastle boss Alan Shearer is facing yet another injury crisis as he prepares for Sunday's crunch trip to Aston Villa. The club's only right-back, Habib Beye (hamstring), is out while their only left-back, Jose Enrique (hamstring), has only just returned to full training. Skipper Michael Owen (groin) will undergo a late fitness test and Obafemi Martins is being nursed through his own long-standing groin problem, although Alan Smith (thigh) is fit. Central defender Sebastien Bassong is suspended after losing an appeal against his red card against Fulham last weekend, and he joins the banned Joey Barton on the sidelines.

Source: Eurosport