Premier League - Team news: Taylor doubt

Eurosport - Mon, 27 Apr 19:27:00 2009

Steven Taylor is struggling to be fit for Newcastle's clash with Portsmouth tonight due to an ankle injury.

Steven Taylor Newcastle - 0

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Alan Shearer initially adopted a three-man rearguard at Tottenham last Sunday with Taylor Habib Beye and Sebastien Bassong starting at the back, although Taylor's injury and the fact his side had to chase the game resulted in a reshuffle before the break.

Left-back Jose Enrique could return from a knee problem and with Ryan Taylor having played at right-back as well as on the right side of midfield, Beye and Frenchman Bassong could yet find themselves at the middle of a back four dealing with towering Pompey striker Peter Crouch.

However, that would not worry their manager unduly.

Shearer said: "Beye and Bassong have probably been the top performers for us in the three games that I have been here.

"I will be looking for more of the same from the two of them."

Newcastle's need could hardly be more pressing as they target victory in each of their remaining home games to give themselves a chance of avoiding the drop.

Shearer said: "We are in this position, it's a tough position, but I believe we have got enough fight and enough bottle and enough decent players to get us out of it."

Seven points clear of the second-from-bottom Magpies, Pompey already look almost home and hosed in the race to beat relegation but boss Paul Hart is still not convinced that 40 points - which they would achieve with a win at St James's Park - is sufficient.

He said: "I simply don't how many points we will need. Who does? All I'll say is that we'll keep on scrapping to get as many points as we can regardless of whether or not we stay in this division.

"Newcastle, supposedly have got to win their three remaining home games to give themselves a chance (of staying up) but we still need points, too, and we'll try to make it very difficult for them."

Hart is confident of another happy Pompey night - he has already won three and drawn four of his nine games in charge since succeeding sacked Tony Adams - and a return to winning ways after a gallant 2-0 defeat at Manchester United in midweek.

He said: "The players showed in that Old Trafford game, as much as any of the previous ones, that they have what it takes to be very hard to beat. We could have caved in and got the same kind of result as Spurs did there (beaten 5-2) on Saturday.

David Nugent has been passed fit for selection after limping out of the Manchester United game at half-time with a "dead leg" but there is still a doubt over defender Younes Kaboul who missed that match with a thigh injury while midfielder Niko Kranjcar (ankle) has again been ruled out.

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. Gerrard a diver? Er, excuse me but if Gerrard is a­ diver then what are Drogba & Ronaldo? They are the­ best divers in the Premier League!! Did Duncan Gooddew­ train them or Sharronm Davies? I wonder

    From bigstu.anfield1892lfcredsfan, on Sat 25 Apr 12:11PM

  2. To Kenny 72.
    Unfortunately this world is full of stupid­ immature United fans who slag GERRARD off? They are­ only jealous coz they know how damn good he is thus­ plays for Liverpool!! Oh yeah for good measure i­ did'nt see United fans slag him off at Old Trafford­ when he scored & he saluted the fans!! Just shows­ you United fans DO RATE him really

    From bigstu.anfield1892lfcredsfan, on Sat 25 Apr 12:08PM

  3. As a Liverpool fan we only made Arshavin look good coz­ we let him play. I've NEVER seen such poor­ defending by Liverpool for a long time!! I think Hull­ City will suffer a backlash at KC this afternoon

    From bigstu.anfield1892lfcredsfan, on Sat 25 Apr 12:05PM

  4. Any fans who take the piss out of disasters ain't a­ football fan there just a damn disgrace to football­ & themselves!! I hope you or your family or­ football club DO NOT ave a major disaster like­ Liverpool suffered United suffered Bradford suffured

    From bigstu.anfield1892lfcredsfan, on Sat 25 Apr 12:03PM

  5. I am a Liverpool Fan. Slating Hillsborough is NOT­ FUNNY!! Your goes to shoe what sick immature no respect­ for life b*stards there is out there unfortunately

    From bigstu.anfield1892lfcredsfan, on Sat 25 Apr 12:01PM

  6. And if for example you youtube the video uVb2gbMtN3I­ you will see how Gerrard is a cheap shooter.

    From Half A Brain, on Sat 25 Apr 11:42AM

  7. Everyone knows Gerrard is a diver and the footage is­ there to prove it. While the likes of Ronaldo and­ Drogba are also divers, however none of them said the­ following about divers: ''it is damaging­ football'' but Gerrard did.

    From Half A Brain, on Sat 25 Apr 11:39AM

  8. scousers never stop cryin about hillsboro ,THEY CAUSED­ IT, come on man utd . no scouse chumps.

    From Jeff, on Sat 25 Apr 11:27AM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

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    From WWW.PREMIERSHIP.ALTERVISTA.ORG, on Sat 25 Apr 11:09AM

  10. all these manc scum who slag off gerrard, i ask ONE­ question, would you have him in your scum side.?

    From TEVEZ, on Sat 25 Apr 11:06AM

  11. king billy, keep the insults coming there hilarious. we­ love em

    From TEVEZ, on Sat 25 Apr 10:51AM

  12. king billy, keep the insults coming there hilarious. we­ love em

    From TEVEZ, on Sat 25 Apr 10:50AM

  13. i hope liverpool do well but its takin gerrard a while­ to recover isnt it but anyway as long as we have the­ mighty torres we'll be alright! from a boro fan

    From smiley123, on Sat 25 Apr 10:50AM

  14. invalid comment?

    From smiley123, on Sat 25 Apr 10:49AM

  15. yes ,they do say that ,but i cant see it changing­ liverpool are too shaky ,shipping more goals that­ thomson ferries at the moment ,and today will b a test­ for them ,as will spurs for utd . lets see .

    From handyandyisalways, on Sat 25 Apr 10:41AM

  16. I am a ManU supporter but I hope Liverpool do well over­ the weekend. It's good to have them right at our­ heels because I am still traumatised by the season when­ ManU won the EPL as early as April a few seasons back­ and they subsequently fielded the second stringers and­ took the fun out of watching the EPL.

    From cokrowinoto, on Sat 25 Apr 10:33AM

  17. donneybeck i've got where you are coming from ! but­ when you look at the remaining fixtures over all­ between utd,liverpool ,utd have it easier in my opinion­ !and they wont drop 6 points ,as liverpool will not win­ all their remaining fixtures they also play spurs at­ the end of the season i believe ,utd have won the epl­ !!

    From handyandyisalways, on Sat 25 Apr 10:14AM

  18. its about the time that Hull won a game. I have a good­ feeling about them!

    From Marcus, on Sat 25 Apr 9:48AM

  19. donneysbeck thats the only stumbling block (if any for­ man u! ) they'll win today is my guess

    From handyandyisalways, on Sat 25 Apr 9:41AM

  20. In valid comment my foot,you fear the truth.

    From Sammy, on Sat 25 Apr 9:40AM
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