Jordan Stewart is on standby to replace the injured Andy Taylor as Kevin Blackwell ponders team selection for tonight's visit of Newcastle.

The United boss was generally pleased with the improvement shown by his squad - goals conceded apart - against Cardiff last time out and may be tempted to leave well alone apart from the enforced change:

"Taylor will be out with a torn thigh for another three or four weeks, whilst Gary Naysmith, who has trained for the first time in six months, has done ever so well but, like Derek Geary, is still five or six weeks away."

With Richard Cresswell, Jamie Ward and Nick Montgomery still recuperating United still have some way to go before they can field a strong squad:

"It may be that we will not be able to fill the bench but then again we haven't done on many occasions this season. There will at least be five or six so we will be okay."

West Brom's win and Cardiff's draw at the weekend have pushed the visitors down to third but a win tonight to take then back to the top is a big incentive and Blackwell is unsurprised by their success:

"Before the campaign began I tipped the three clubs that came down from the Premiership to be favourites to go back up and I haven't seen anything to really make me change my mind yet.

"Chris Hughton has done a terrific job at Newcastle, he is one of the nice lads in football, is a very good coach and is there on merit.

"Every club needs stability, particularly the big ones, and he has brought that. Chris has been a number two for some time and is now finding out what it is like being number one and so far he has done brilliantly."