TITUS Bramble and Jean-Alain Boumsong will be playing for their places this weekend after an exasperated Graeme Souness warned he was not afraid to play Peter Ramage in his preferred position of centre-half.

The Newcastle boss has spent the last week reflecting on the defensive indiscipline that sent his side spiralling to a 3-0 defeat at Chelsea last weekend.

Bramble's age-old frailties came to the fore again as his misplaced pass led to Joe Cole's opener, while Boumsong's performance deteriorated as the game wore on with passes going astray and tackles being missed.

The pair will be back in tandem at Everton on Sunday but, with Steven Taylor and Stephen Carr both injured, that is more about circumstance than choice.

Carr could return from a hernia problem when the Magpies travel to Wigan on Wednesday and, once the Irishman returns, Ramage will be free to switch inside.

The 22-year-old is yet to play at the heart of defence for United but, despite his impressive efforts at full-back, Souness still sees centre-half as his long-term role.

"Peter hasn't been playing in his favourite position," said the Magpies manager, who is confident of having both Alan Shearer and Michael Owen available for Sunday's game.

"We know he can play at centre-half - that's where he wants to play - and I would have no qualms about playing him there if I felt it was the right thing to do.

"Right now, he will have to wait for his chance. But when it comes, I have no doubts that he will make the most of it, as Steven Taylor has done already this season."

Ramage has made five successive starts since he was recalled to the first team for last month's derby win over Sunderland.

He was Newcastle's most accomplished defender at Stamford Bridge, with even England boss Sven Goran Eriksson taking note.

Full international caps might still be a long way off but, with the Magpies hardly awash with reliable defenders, Ramage's future seems certain to be bright.

"Peter's really come on this season," added Souness. "He has coped well with the challenges he has faced in the Premier League.

"He has done his career no harm whatsoever this season and, with every game he plays, he gets better and better.

"I have seen a tremendous improvement in his game. That is a result of training every day with the first-team squad, being involved with our best players and playing Premier League football.

"In the last month or so, just by being involved, he has got a lot better and there is still improvement in him. He can go an awful long way in the game.

"The door opened for him last month and he has walked through it. He has made the most of his chance, and he would be hard to leave out of the team now."

* David O'Leary is resigned to losing Magpies midfielder James Milner at the end of the season.

Milner moved to Villa Park on a season-long loan as part of the deal that saw Nolberto Solano rejoin Newcastle.

"James is a good young player," said the Villa boss. "Newcastle bought him for £5m which is a big spend, but they have a player who will be very good for them for many years to come. I would love to have him here, but I don't think Newcastle will be letting him go."

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