STEPHEN Carr is expected to make his long-awaited return from a knee injury this afternoon after an intensive spell of massage ruled out the need for surgery.

Carr injured his knee in November's 3-1 defeat to Manchester United and, when initial attempts at treatment failed to solve the problem, United's medical staff had all but resigned themselves to an operation that would have sidelined the full-back for at least three months.

But, after receiving heavy massage as a last resort, the former Tottenham full-back is poised to replace teenager Steven Taylor in the side that will face Championship strugglers Coventry this afternoon.

"At one point we were worried he might need an operation," admitted Magpies' boss Graeme Souness. "But we tried a different type of treatment which involved heavy massage on his tendon. That seems to have done the trick.

"We've missed him. Steven Taylor has been magnificent for us - he's been our best player on two or three occasions.

"But he's been playing out of position.

"Defensively, we couldn't have asked for any more but, going forward, we know it's not his strongest role."

Andy O'Brien is expected to partner Titus Bramble at the heart of defence as, while Jean-Alain Boumsong's hamstring problem is not as serious as first thought, though it will still keep him out of this afternoon's FA Cup clash.

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