Newcastle striker Mark Viduka should be fit after another injury scare.

The Australian left the pitch at Tottenham last weekend with a tight hamstring, but is expected to make the starting line up.

However, midfielder Emre will be missing for three weeks after aggravating his calf injury on his return to action for the reserves in midweek.

Stephen Carr (hamstring) and James Milner (foot) are close to being available again, but Shay Given and Claudio Cacapa (both groin) and Peter Ramage (knee) are still missing.

Reading will be without Marek Matejovsky for Saturday's Barclays Premier League trip to Newcastle as the midfielder serves a one-match ban following his sending off against Blackburn last week.

Winger Glen Little is in the squad for the first time in almost a year as he completes his comeback from an Achilles injury.

Forward Jimmy Kebe (knee) and midfielder Brynjar Gunnarsson (groin) remain sidelined and defender Graeme Murty is not yet fully recovered from a knee problem.