Babayaro faces knee op

Celestine Babayaro may have to undergo an operation to cure his knee complaint.

The stopper has made just eight appearances for Newcastle United since signing from Chelsea in January, and will miss Thursday's Uefa Cup quarter final first leg against Sporting.

Specialists have been unable to ascertain the cause of the 26-year-old's pain, and now Newcastle boss Graeme Souness has admitted that he may have to go under the knife if the situation does not improve.

"It's extremely frustrating, he is doing work at the gym but still says he has pain in his knee," said Souness.

"He has had two separate scans and seen two separate specialists and they have found nothing.

"Ultimately there will have to be an op to see if we can see what's wrong."

Babayaro's absence heaps more defensive troubles on Souness as he already faces taking on the Portuguese outfit with Jean-Alain Boumsong and Titus Bramble unavailable.

Meanwhile reports suggest that Celtic will step up their attempts to lure fiery forward Craig Bellamy from St James' Park after the European tie.

The Welsh international has been on loan in Glasgow after a spectacular bust-up with Souness in January, and Bhoys chief executive Peter Lawwell is expected to open negotiations with Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd over a permanent deal.

Newcastle are reportedly looking for £5 million for the talented but complicated 25-year-old, and Celtic will be desperate to secure the signature of the man who has claimed six goals in eight games since his move north of the border.