Newcastle will be boosted by the return of keeper Tim Krul for Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first-leg trip to face Benfica.
The Dutch custodian has missed the last seven games because of an ankle injury picked up in the last-32 tie at Metalist Kharkiv, but he will oust Rob Elliot from the number one spot at the Estadio da Luz, in Lisbon.
Magpies boss Alan Pardew said: “He has trained very well and I personally think he is one of the top goalkeepers in the world.
“This is a great opportunity for him to come back as the number one ahead of Sunday [against Fulham].
“I don’t mind putting that pressure on him – he accepts at this level that if he wants to play in the Dutch national side, that is the pressure he is under.
“I have no doubt he will respond to that.”
Meanwhile, Chieck Tiote will miss out because of a muscle strain while Mathieu Debuchy and Yoan Gouffran are ineligible.
Central defender Mike Williamson could feature after not playing since mid-January, while striker Shola Ameobi, midfielder Yohan Cabaye and Argentine international Jonas Gutierrez are in the squad.
Teenagers such as 18-year-old Adam Campbell and midfielder Gael Bigirimana are in the 19-man squad which flew out to Portugal earlier this week.
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