EIGHT years after Lee Clark last had a starting role for Newcastle United, the gritty local hero looks set to play an important role in the club's Sunday reunion with Craig Bellamy, writes Paul Fraser.

Newcastle boss Graeme Souness is having to reshuffle his pack yet again with his squad in the midst of an injury crisis, and that means Clark has a chance he never thought would crop up.

Nolberto Solano is destined to miss out on the Magpies' trip to Ewood Park despite receiving round-the-clock treatment on the thigh injury picked up during his last appearance for Aston Villa.

And - with Albert Luque sidelined for two months, Scott Parker suspended plus Emre and Kieron Dyer not due to make full recoveries from hamstring problems until next weekend at the earliest - Souness is ready to change formation and personnel in a bid to avoid another poor result.

Clark is in line to play as one of the middle men in a diamond formation with Amdy Faye, Lee Bowyer and Charles N'Zogbia.

The 32-year-old only signed in the summer for exactly this sort of scenario.

After ending six years with Fulham, he was given a contract at Newcastle with a view to play for the reserves, bring on the youngsters to improve his coaching.

But, such has been the dearth of options in midfield, Clark has been called upon to make three substitute appearances already this season and has been pushed into the first team picture.

His last start was a 0-0 draw at West Ham in May 1997 under Kenny Daglish before moving to Sunderland a month later for £2.5m. But now back at Newcastle he would love nothing more than to play a part in helping his boyhood heroes back to the upper echelons of the Premiership table.

Saturday's draw with his old club, Fulham, has left Newcastle with the unthinkable prospect of propping up the league table this weekend if they fail to win at Blackburn and Sunderland beat West Brom.

Newcastle's need for three points is not helped by the fact Bellamy and Blackburn will be fired up to put one over their old boss.

Despite Bellamy's insistence he will not be saying anything before the fixture, team-mate Robbie Savage has stoked up the heat by doing his talking for him.

To make matters Newcastle head to Blackburn having failed to win any of the previous ten Premiership meetings between the two clubs at Ewood Park - losing six and drawing four.

Read more about Newcastle United FC here.