Graeme Souness will give Emre every chance to prove his fitness.
Newcastle boss Graeme Souness will give Emre every chance to prove his fitness for Saturday's trip to Wigan.The Magpies take on Wigan on PremPlus on Saturday, and Emre is in contention to make his first appearance since August.
The Turkish international damaged his hamstring against Manchester United, but played 45 minutes for his country on Wednesday and reported no ill-effects on returning to Tyneside.
Souness is not prepared to risk the midfield schemer's long-term future by rushing him back to action and will wait to see if he suffers any reaction on Friday.
"I understand Emre played the best part of the second half against Albania for Turkey and came through it okay," Souness said on Sky Sports News.
"He travelled back and we will see how he is."
Souness still has a number of injury worries, with Kieron Dyer, Nolberto Solano and Albert Luque in the treatment room.
"There is no Dyer," added Souness. "We are hoping to have Nobby back for the derby, but Emre is the only one who has a possibility of being back from injury this week."
Souness may have a congested treatment room, but he has backed Michael Owen to fire the club up the table.
"He's just got that sense to be in the right place at the right time," said the Scot.
"With the international games he has had in the last week or so, he will be somewhere near full fitness now. In terms of his sharpness, he should be more or less there."
