PETER RAMAGE is in line to be handed a rare chance to prove his credentials as a centre-back at Chelsea tomorrow night, as Newcastle United look to claim an FA Cup semi-final place for the second year in a row.

With Jean-Alain Boumsong suspended, if Ramage impresses at Stamford Bridge there is every chance he could earn the chance to play there regularly.

Boumsong's season went from bad to worse on Sunday, when he comically failed to deal with a routine ball over the top before being sent off for hauling down Liverpool's Peter Crouch as he ran through on goal.

That red card means the Frenchman will miss the FA Cup quarter-final and, with right-back Stephen Carr on the brink of being involved again, Ramage looks destined to be handed the chance to shine at the heart of the defence.

The return to the squad at the weekend of Craig Moore, on the bench for only the second time since joining the club in the summer, also gives Glenn Roeder another alternative.

But, knowing Moore's track record with a hamstring problem and his alarming lack of competitive action for more than a year, the Newcastle caretaker boss is reluctant to gamble on the player's fitness from the start in such a massive game for the club.

The Australian international, determined to work his way into the Magpies line-up to push his claims for a place at this summer's World Cup, also spent a lot of last season on the sidelines when he was with Bundesliga side Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Since Graeme Souness took him to St James' Park on a free transfer he has managed three reserve team outings and a pre-season friendly against Sporting Lisbon, in which he scored.

But Roeder, who revealed Titus Bramble pulled up in training with another mystery niggle to the hamstring that has been causing him concern since the draw with Charlton on February 22, insists a comeback is not too far away.

"The fact is that Craig was on the bench for the first time in a number of months and will be in contention to come in for Jean-Alain," said Roeder. "Titus felt a new tightness of his hamstring ahead of Sunday's game and it's back to the drawing board with him.

"He will be out for another seven to ten days.

"Had Craig played a few more games he would be a certainty, but he only has two reserve games behind him from the last five or six months.

"I'm also told he didn't play much in Germany before that, so we can't rush him too quickly. If we do then it could keep him out for even longer. What would be the point of that?"

Moore, Boumsong and Bramble's loss, however, appears to be to both Carr and Ramage's gain.

Academy product Ramage has never tried to hide his desire to establish himself at Newcastle as a centre-back and that call could be on the horizon this week.

If Carr's situation does not deteriorate then the likelihood will be that Ramage's wish is granted.

Carr has not played since January 14's defeat to Fulham. It was only the second game of his comeback after three months out.

He underwent a hernia operation at the same time as Alan Shearer but it has taken the former Tottenham defender longer to recover.

However, after training all last week, Roeder feels the time could be about ready to call on Carr again to prove his worth as a Premiership full-back.

"I would think Stephen Carr may be back to go to Chelsea," said Roeder. "He's training very well but we wouldn't push him.

"If we don't push him for Wednesday then he will have to wait and he should definitely be back a few days later for the Charlton game on Sunday.

"I'm pleased with Stephen's progress. He has been working really hard in training and he is pleased with how things have been going."

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