SEBASTIEN Bassong and Steven Taylor face a race to be fit for Saturday’s crunch relegation clash at Stoke after failing to feature in the open section of yesterday’s training session at St James’ Park.

With more than 7,500 supporters in attendance at St James’, Alan Shearer put his players through their paces in a series of exercises and small-sided games.

But neither Bassong nor Taylor were involved in the practice matches, suggesting they could struggle to force their way into the squad that will travel to the Britannia Stadium in three days time.

Given Stoke’s obvious aerial threat, and the errorstrewn display produced by Fabricio Coloccini against Chelsea last weekend, Newcastle boss Alan Shearer will be desperately hoping that at least one of the duo is passed fit to play on Saturday.

Bassong, who missed the 2- 0 defeat to Chelsea with an ankle injury, would appear to be closest as he trained with the rest of the Newcastle squad in the hour or so before the gates were opened to the public.

The France Under-21 international is back in light training, but it remains to be seen whether he will be risked against a Stoke side that is sure to pose a physical threat in attack.

Taylor, who is nursing a groin injury sustained in last month’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal, is more unlikely to feature against the Potters.

The 23-year-old was ruled out of last weekend’s game with Chelsea at an early stage, and is still to take part in any contact work.

The same applies to Joey Barton and Mark Viduka, who worked together yesterday as they continued to step up their respective recoveries from long-term injury.

The pair carried out a series of running drills yesterday, and while Viduka is unlikely to be risked at Stoke given the availability of Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins, Shola Ameobi and Andy Carroll, who scored twice for the reserves on Monday night, Barton could yet make a surprise return to the firstteam squad.

The midfielder, who has been sidelined since breaking a metatarsal in the defeat at Manchester City on January 28, was summoned for a detailed discussion with Shearer at the end of yesterday’s session, and may be a lastminute addition to the group that will travel south at the end of the week.