TURKISH midfielder Emre is in line to make a return to the Newcastle United line-up to face Manchester City in ten days - meaning manager Graeme Souness' faces a selection crisis this weekend.

As well as Emre's unavailability for the trip to Blackburn on Sunday, Souness will also be without Kieron Dyer, Albert Luque and Scott Parker.

Newcastle have conceded there is no chance Parker's red card against Fulham will be overturned by the FA, ruling him out of the game at Ewood Park.

And there is also a possibility Souness' list of players available to him could still be shy of Nolberto Solano, who is yet to make his debut following a £1.5m switch from Aston Villa.

Solano was suspended on Saturday and is battling to overcome a thigh problem in time to face Rovers and his fitness could be crucial to Newcastle's chances of claiming their first win of the campaign.

Souness' midfield options currently consists of Lee Bowyer, Amdy Faye, Lee Clark and Charles N'Zogbia, while there is also the possibility of playing Stephen Carr there.

But at least Souness should have Emre back in his ranks for City's visit to St James' Park a week on Saturday.

The middle-man had indicated to his boss he felt he had recovered from his hamstring problem in time to travel to Blackburn.

However, Souness is not prepared to risk him having already gambled on Emre's fitness once this season - when he lasted just 23 minutes of the defeat to Manchester United.

But the 25-year-old will be back in full training with the Newcastle squad on Monday, to give him plenty of time to make a full recovery before the City encounter.

"Emre is making good progress with his fitness and he will be back for the game against Manchester City," said the Turkey international's agent Ahmet Bulut.

"He is feeling good but he knows he cannot rush his comeback. He knows he must be 100 per cent before he plays again.

"He can't be in the situation where he plays for 30 minutes and then has the same problem again.

"He will not play this weekend but should not miss any more games.

"He has started to run again and next week he will be back in training with the rest of the Newcastle squad.

"He is desperate to play again and to help Newcastle.''

Steven Taylor back this weekend after recovering from a dead leg against Fulham.

l A wonder goal from Li Tie brought Newcastle reserves' unbeaten start to the season to an end as Everton won 1-0.

Chinese international Li Tie blasted in a 35-yard drive in the opening exchanges of the second half. Titus Bramble got another chance to improve his fitness having made his comeback from an elbow injury last Saturday.

Newcastle: Caig, Baxter, Elliott, Bramble, Edgar, Gate, Atkin (Cave 58), Clark, Finnigan, O'Brien, Marshall (Farman 58) Subs (not used): Smith, Shanks.

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