From: southtynesidetoday.co.uk (Link Removed)
Emre could be back in Toon
EMRE is ready to hand
Newcastle United manager Graeme Souness more early Christmas cheer by declaring himself fit.
The Turkey international midfielder ?who suffered a hamstring injury in the Carling Cup defeat at Wigan Athletic late last month ?could be in the squad for Saturday's Premiership game against
West Ham at Upton Park after stepping up his training.
The return of Emre would be another welcome boost for Souness, whose side eased the pressure on his position with a 1-0 win over
Arsenal last Saturday.
That lifted United into the top half of the Premiership, and level on points with ninth-placed
West Ham.
Left-back Celestine Babayaro ?who served the last of a three-game ban for clashing with
Everton's Cahill last Saturday ?is also close to a return from his groin problem.
But Steven Taylor, Kieron Dyer, Craig Moore, Stephen Carr and Charles N'Zogbia's will not be back for the weekend.
Souness needs as many of his injured players back fit as possible before the busy Christmas period.
Newcastle have four Premiership games in the space of eight days coming up, with the Boxing Day fixture at
Liverpool followed by Charlton Athletic at home two days later. On New Year's Eve, United are at
Tottenham Hotspur, and two days later Middlesbrough are at St James's Park.
West Ham, meanwhile, go into Saturday's game without influential midfielder Nigel Reo Coker ?one of their players of the season so far ?because of a broken ankle.
While their veteran striker Teddy Sheringham, who missed last Saturday's defeat at
Blackburn Rovers because of a calf problem, is a doubt.
13 December 2005
