NEWCASTLE are hoping to have Michael Owen and Jose Enrique available for Sunday’s relegation decider at Aston Villa – but Sebastien Bassong will miss the trip to Villa Park after the Football Association upheld his dismissal in last weekend’s defeat to Fulham.

An FA regulatory commission rejected Newcastle’s appeal over the straight red card Bassong received for a professional foul on Diomansy Kamara, and the Frenchman will now serve the first part of a two-match suspension on Sunday.

He will be sorely missed as he has been the Magpies’ best defender for the majority of the campaign, but his absence could be tempered by the possible return of Enrique, the only recognised left-back on Newcastle’s books.

Enrique returned to full training yesterday following a hamstring injury, and the Spaniard could be joined in the starting line-up at Villa Park by Owen after Newcastle’s medical staff received some positive news regarding the striker’s groin problem.

Scans have revealed no serious damage to Owen’s groin, and while his participation will remain in doubt right up to a fitness test on Sunday morning, the skipper’s possible appearance in Newcastle’s final game of the season represents a timely boost.

The Magpies will be relegated if they lose at Aston Villa, and a draw will only be good enough to keep them in the top-flight if Hull lose at home to Manchester United.

“Michael’s scan results are positive, so we’re hopeful,”

confirmed Newcastle assistant Iain Dowie. “But he’s yet to train and he’s not 100 per cent. It will definitely go down to the wire.

“We want him – he’s the club captain and he’s a born goalscorer. But if we don’t have him, so be it. We can go in with Oba (Martins) and Mark (Viduka), who would have had a goal apiece on another day on Saturday.

“Jose’s now back into full training, but he’s still a little bit stiff. He gives us a different option, but I think Damien Duff has been excellent, given that he’s not a natural left-back.

“The situation with Jose will go down to the wire as well – we’ll assess him in the run up to Sunday.”

It wasn’t all good news on the injury front yesterday, however, as tests revealed that Andy Carroll has sustained an ankle ligament injury that will sideline him for the next six weeks.

Carroll, who was a secondhalf substitute on Saturday, would have provided a physical alternative from the substitutes’ bench at Villa Park.

“Andy has picked up a nasty ankle injury,” said Dowie. “He’s ruptured his ankle ligaments so we’ve lost him. He’ll be out for six weeks which is a shame – he gave us another option. Fortunately, Shola’s (Ameobi) back and Nile (Ranger) will come into the reckoning as well.”

Sunday’s match will mark the end of the eight-game period Dowie and Alan Shearer initially agreed to spend in charge of the Magpies.

Officially, the pair are due to stand down whatever happens at the weekend but, in recent weeks, there has been sustained speculation suggesting they will agree to remain in charge of the club next season.

The decision to install a new disciplinary regime was viewed as evidence of a desire to make long-term changes, while Shearer’s admission that he would speak to Mark Viduka about his future at the end of the season was interpreted as a tacit acknowledgment that he would remain in his current role.

Newcastle’s supporters unquestionably want Shearer to stay, but Dowie claims recent events should not be regarded as a pointer to future developments.

“I have said from the first minute we got here that we have taken decisions that are right from the long term of this football club,” he said. “I think maybe that has been perceived as we’re staying for the long term, but I don’t think that’s the case.

“Alan came to me and said ‘It’s an eight-week job’. As far as I’m aware, that eight weeks ends on Monday. Nothing’s changed, although it will be a matter for Alan to sit down and talk about if that’s what he wants to do. All our focus is on Sunday and keeping the club in the Premier League.”

However, having been out of management and coaching since leaving QPR last October, Dowie has admitted to enjoying his spell at St James’ Park.

“This is an outstanding football club and I have had a wonderful time,” he said. “I love the way the people have taken to Alan and me – coming in with Alan obviously helps because he’s a legend here.

“It’s the biggest club I have ever worked for. I was a West Ham fan as a boy – that was my club – but this is a different kettle of fish. Whatever happens, Newcastle deserve a team that reflects the fans’ commitment and is capable of winning things.”