CRAIG Moore is championing the cause of Newcastle United's much-maligned centre-backs, claiming the club boast strength in depth amongst their defensive ranks.

The Australia international, who has endured an injury-plagued season on Tyneside, has seen positive signs in the fledgling partnership he has formed with Titus Bramble, but knows the pressure is on to keep his first-team place.

The central defensive pairings have come in for repeated criticisms throughout the campaign, with only Steven Taylor escaping the wrath of the Newcastle fans.

This culminated in Jean-Alain Boumsong's sending off after a calamitous mis-kick in the 3-1 home defeat against Liverpool in March, the player jeered by the home fans as he made his way off the pitch.

Moore, however, believes much of the criticism has been unfair and the club have defenders they can be proud of.

"In the last couple of games Titus Bramble has been a tower of strength in defence and he's weighed in with a goal as well (against Wigan)," said the 30-year-old former Rangers man, who started his first game of the season in the 3-1 defeat at Charlton last month.

"But he's not the only good central defender we have at the club - we've got many.

"Jean-Alain Boumsong is a fantastic centre half and we all know what he's done with the French national team, Steven Taylor was flying at the start of the season until he picked up an injury, and Peter Ramage has come in and played at right back and centre half.

"We do have a lot of depth in those two positions and unfortunately it is only two positions."

After a difficult start at the Valley, Moore has produced more encouraging performances recently against Wigan and Sunderland.

When Boumsong was taken out of the firing line following a number of below-par performances, caretaker boss Glenn Roeder turned to Bramble and Moore in a bid to steady the ship - and the Aussie can see plenty of potential in his 24-year-old colleague.

"It's been a frustrating season for me personally and Titus has been out as well with a hamstring injury but it's great to have him back," he said.

"Titus is still very young but he's got everything. He's got power, he's got pace, he's a good user of the ball and as he showed last weekend he can pop up and score a goal.

"Defending is like everything. You get better when you play regularly and you grow in confidence and Titus' confidence is growing.

"He has all the attributes of being a fantastic central defender and he is still very very young."

The timing of Moore's call-up to the first-team could hardly have been timed better with Australia playing in their first World Cup Finals for 32 years this summer.

Despite leaving his homeland 13 years ago to pursue his career in Europe, Moore has made no attempt to his desire to represent the Socceroos this summer - and the signs from Aussie boss Guus Hiddink's set-up are encouraging.

"I have had contact with the assistant manager (Graham Arnold). I've dealt with Dutch people before, Dick Advocaat at Rangers, so there's no problem with not speaking to him (Hiddink) directly," said the player, who already has 30 caps for his country.

"They're very pleased that I'm back playing. They've made it fairly clear they want me to go to the World Cup."

l Shay Given has been made captain for tomorrow's visit of West Brom to St James' Park.