GRAEME Souness has leapt to the defence of Nicky Butt, after the much-maligned midfielder refuted suggestions he had snubbed Newcastle's fans in the wake of Sunday's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United.

Butt was the only Newcastle player not to acknowledge the travelling support in the Millennium Stadium and, instead of joining his team-mates in the centre circle at the final whistle, he headed straight for the tunnel with some of his former colleagues.

The England international hardly covered himself in glory on the way out of the ground either as, instead of talking to the assembled press, he chose to mete out a series of withering stares as he laughed and joked with former boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

There had been calls for Souness to leave the 30-year-old out of the side for this evening's trip to Norwich, but that is hardly an option with Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer suspended, and both Jermaine Jenas and Amdy Faye nursing knocks.

Butt is a certain starter at Carrow Road, and after the midfielder issued a public apology - clearly this season's must-have item at St James' Park - Souness has insisted he has no qualms about keeping him in the team.

"There's no way that was intended as a snub," claimed the Magpies manager. "I ask our supporters to understand that there was nobody more disappointed on the pitch than Nicky Butt on Sunday.

"He was extremely fired up and wanted to beat his old team. He also wanted to show the players he once played with that he was a top performer, and neither happened. He left the pitch a distraught man.

"He's a thoughtful footballer who demands a lot of himself and his team-mates.

"I can guarantee every single supporter that there is no way that Nicky Butt intended to snub anyone on Sunday."

Butt has been a major disappointment since making a £2.5m move to Tyneside last summer, with a serious hamstring problem sidelining him for more than three months of the campaign.

Birmingham City are understood to be monitoring his situation but, by apologising to Newcastle's fans, the England international is hoping to carve out a future with the Magpies.

"There has been suggestion that I deliberately snubbed the fans," said Butt. "I wish to go on record and state that was not my intention. If anyone has been left with that impression, I apologise.

"We have a number of big games left and as a group of players we will be giving 100 per cent to try and improve our current league position, because that's what the fans deserve."

Newcastle will move up the Premiership if they win at Norwich tonight but, yet again, injuries and suspensions will rob Souness of some of his leading lights.

Faye is expected to recover from a ligament problem to partner Butt, but Steven Taylor is poised to line up as an emergency left-back in the expected absence of both Celestine Babayaro and Aaron Hughes.

Hughes is due to undergo a hernia operation that will rule him out of the rest of the season, while Titus Bramble is also still struggling with a muscle problem.

l Bowyer yesterday admitted a charge of violent conduct following his on-field fracas with team-mate Kieron Dyer, but requested a personal hearing in front of the FA's disciplinary committee.

The former Leeds midfielder will serve the third game of his current four-match ban tonight, but is almost certain to see that suspension extended.