WHEN Nolberto Solano sealed a deadline day return to Newcastle United one of the first people to welcome him back was Kieron Dyer.

And the pair have seen an awful lot of each other since the Peruvian made the switch from Aston Villa, albeit not in the circumstances they might have desired.

For Solano, who had something of a telepathic understanding with his fellow midfielder during his first stint on Tyneside, has been unable to pull on the black and white shirt since his £1.5m move, having been suspended for two games and troubled by a thigh injury.

Ironically, the South American's pal has also found himself sidelined, this time by a hamstring strain.

Manager Graeme Souness had been toying with the idea of bringing the likes of Solano, Dyer or fellow injury-blighted midfielder, Turkish international Emre, back for last Saturday's clash with Manchester City at St. James' Park but in the end opted to err on the side of caution.

As it turned out it was the right thing to do as Souness reported that Solano, who had been "going great guns", had felt something on the morning of the game and his side went on to win 1-0 anyway.

Now the long trek to Premiership strugglers Portsmouth on Saturday is the comeback target.

After training with Dyer and the rest of the injured players yesterday, Solano (30) has his fingers crossed that he will run out alongside him at Fratton Park as the Magpies look to build on back-to-back wins that have lifted them into the top ten.

"Kieron was happy to hear that I had signed for Newcastle again," said Solano. "We enjoyed some great times on the pitch with United and we have always worked well together.

"He has had too many injuries but he knows where the problems are and he is being more careful.

"He is a top player, but only if he is playing football."

Fellow midfielder Scott Parker is relishing his integral role in Souness' team after returning from suspension to help inspire the victory on Saturday.

The former Chelsea player was immediately reinstated to the first team after serving a one-game ban.

During his time at Chelsea, Parker would struggle to regain his place after injury or suspension, but Souness sees the 24-year-old as a key man and would have selected him even if Dyer, Emre, Solano and Albert Luque were fit.

Parker, a £6.5m summer signing, missed the 3-0 win at Blackburn but gave an impressive display against City in the holding role which Souness believes he will eventually occupy for England.

''I was happy to come back in,'' said Parker.

''That's why I came to Newcastle. I left Chelsea because I wanted to play.

''Sometimes at Chelsea you would miss out with an injury or through suspension, and you would struggle to get back in. That's the price you pay at Chelsea.

''The gaffer put me back in and I was pleased to help us get the win.''

* Newcastle's Carling Cup third round tie at Grimsby Town will be shown on Sky TV on October 26 (7.45pm).

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