Newcastle v Dynamo Kiev (live on TV3, 7.45) Bobby Robson will have to pass his own fitness test if he is to be allowed back in the dugout for Newcastle's pivotal Champions League tie against Dynamo Kiev tonight.
Battered and bruised, this otherwise sprightly sexagenarian complained yesterday of "a rough couple of days" after falling down a flight of stairs at the end of last week.
"I've got a sore back and my ribs hurt" - but he will feel considerably better should Newcastle replicate the type of performance that fashioned last week's 1-0 defeat of Juventus.
Anything but victory against a side currently level on points with Juventus at the top of Group E would end Newcastle's faint hopes of qualifying for the competition's second stage, and between his own check-ups he has had mixed news from the club's medical staff about the fitness of Kieron Dyer and Nolberto Solano, two of his most incisive players.
Though Dyer was said to be "much better" after his back injury, this match may have come too early for him to take any part. Solano injured an ankle during Saturday's 2-1 defeat of Charlton and is a considerable doubt.
Robson nevertheless has renewed cause to be optimistic, particularly given the nature of last week's victory, a performance that earned Newcastle their first points in the competition and opened up a potential route into the second phase.
"We've given ourselves a massive injection," said Robson. "One point is not going to be enough, but with three we've got a chance. We're not afraid of it; in fact we're looking forward to it."
In which case he must hope that Steve Harper continues to show immunity to stage fright. For so long Shay Given's understudy, Harper will be restored to the side after keeping out Juventus but losing out to Given against Charlton.
Given has grudgingly accepted Robson's decision, acknowledging a drop in his form, and it is a rotation policy which Robson clearly intends to use for as long as it takes him to decide who is his first-choice goalkeeper.
"Shay will be back against Middlesbrough on Monday and then it will be Steve's turn in our next match against Everton," he said. "I've had nothing but a positive reaction from Shay and I know in Steve I have a capable understudy."
NEWCASTLE UNITED (probable, 4-4-2): Harper; Griffin, O'Brien, Bramble, Hughes; Jenas, Viana, Speed, Robert; Lua-Lua, Shearer.
DYNAMO KIEV (probable, 4-3-1-2): Reva; Peev, Ghioane, Gavrancic, Dmytrulin; Husin, Khatskevich, Belkevic; Cernat; El Kaddouri, Shatskikh.
Referee: J Marin (Spain).
