NEWCASTLE UNITED will learn today whether their desperate attempt to have Sebastien Bassong available for Sunday’s relegation decider with Aston Villa has been successful.

Despite manager Alan Shearer’s knee-jerk admission that the centre-back’s red card against Fulham was the “right decision”, Newcastle have tried to overturn the decision in light of a growing list of absentees.

With Habib Beye struggling with a hamstring problem and doubts still surrounding the fitness of Jose Enrique, Shearer can ill afford to be without Newcastle’s ‘player of the season’ at Villa Park.

Bassong was sent off for a trip on Diomansy Kamara and it is an indication of the desperation at the club that they are appealling dewspite Shearer publicly conceding the decision was correct.

And a statement from the Football Association confirmed: “The FA has received a claim for wrongful dismissal from Newcastle United defender Sebastien Bassong.

“Bassong was shown a red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity during Newcastle’s match against Fulham on May 16. A Regulatory Commission will hear the claim on May 19.”

Bassong has been a rare highlight in a dismal season.

Arsenal are among the clubs to have been credited with an interest in him following his rise to prominence at St James’ Park this season.

And if Newcastle were to suffer relegation, Bassong is sure to attract numerous offers from European clubs.

The defeat to Fulham, coupled with Hull’s draw at Bolton, has plunged the Magpies back into the relegation zone ahead of the final Sunday of the season.

And even a victory at Villa Park might not be enough if Hull overcome a weakened Manchester United team ahead of their Champions League final a week tomorrow.

With Michael Owen unlikely to figure, Shearer’s preparations are far from ideal for a fixture that will decide which division Newcastle will play in next season.

There was still no word from St James’ Park last night about the results of a scan on Owen’s groin injury, although it is expected to keep him out of the final day’s action.

Shearer had hoped to be able to call on Owen, out of contract this summer, at some stage because Obafemi Martins is also still nursing his own groin complaint.

Martins is expected to undergo surgery at the end of the season, meaning he could miss Nigeria’s friendly with Ireland on May 29.

The former Inter Milan striker will have to miss some of the internationals this summer, with the Super Eagles due to face France on June 2, Kenya on June 7 and Tunisia on June 20.

Damien Duff was yesterday called into the Ireland squad for the fixture at Craven Cottage.