Newcastle v Blackburn preview

Both players were absent for their respective clubs' Boxing Day fixtures and are battling against illness to be ready for the St James' Park showdown.

Dyer was sent home from the Magpies squad for their 1-1 draw at Leicester on Friday after being laid low with a stomach bug.

He requires a late fitness test, while the condition of Olivier Bernard will be checked upon after the Frenchman was struck in the face by a ball from Laurent Robert.

Jonathan Woodgate was on the substitutes' bench at The Walkers Stadium to rest his hamstring and may return to the starting line-up for the visit of Blackburn.

The visitors are likely to be minus the services of veteran defender Short, who has been a key figure in recent weeks.

Short missed the draw with Middlesbrough with a chest infection and is rated a major doubt for the trip to the North East.

Alan Mahon could start after an impressive cameo against Boro but Steven Reid, Lorenzo Amoruso and David Thompson are longer-term absentees.

Rovers face a tough test in trying to lift themselves away from the relegation zone on Sunday as The Magpies are unbeaten in their last six in The Premiership.