CHELSEA are ready to test Newcastle United's resolve to hang on to Kieron Dyer by offering a swap deal involving giant centre-back Robert Huth.

Dyer has been given the all-clear to resume full training following his hamstring injury, but his future on Tyneside remains unclear following his refusal to play wide right in the opening match of the season at Middlesbrough.

The 25-year-old has played only once for Graeme Souness - limping out of the 2-0 UEFA Cup win over Bnei Sakhnin on September 16 - and has still to win over many fans upset at his refusal to start at the Riverside on August 14.

Chelsea are keen to strengthen their ranks in midfield, and a deal involving 20-year-old Huth could appeal to Souness.

Souness will strengthen in defence when the January transfer window opens and an offer of around £5m plus Huth could prove too attractive for a midfielder who has failed to realise his early promise at Newcastle.

Dyer, who has missed nine games, will be given a run-out for the reserve side next week.

During his absence, Lee Bowyer, Nicky Butt and Jermaine Jenas have all performed well in midfield and the Magpies have lost once.

Newcastle are apparently open to offers for the £6.5m signing.

Meanwhile, Jenas is targeting a return in tomorrow night's UEFA Cup game against Dinamo Tbilisi after sitting out his side's first defeat in 11 games through injury.

The 21-year-old England international was a frustrated bystander in the 2-1 defeat at Bolton, but is determined to be back for the visit of the Georgians.

Jenas said: "I'm a bad watcher at the best of times and that was a difficult game to watch because we didn't get the right result.

"But I should be OK for Thursday night after missing out on Sunday. It was a bit of a freak accident really when I turned my back in training on Saturday morning.

"It was still very painful on Sunday, and because back injuries can be a bit funny, I didn't want to mess around with it."

* Newcastle midfielder Hugo Viana, currently on loan at Sporting Lisbon, has escaped injury after his car was involved in a serious accident in Portugal.