STEVEN TAYLOR has failed to shake off hamstring trouble in time to face Sheffield United tonight, while Marlon Harewood has been dropped from the Newcastle team.

Magpies boss Chris Hughton has made three changes to the team that defeated Doncaster, with only Zurab Khizanishvili (suspended) an enforced absence.

Both Harewood and Danny Guthrie have been left out to accomodate Alan Smith, Fabricio Coloccini and Danny Simpson.

Top scorer Kevin Nolan will play just behind striker Andy Carroll, as Newcastle look to go back to the top of the Championship.

SHEFFIELD UNITED (4-4-2): Bennett; Walker, Davies, Morgan, Kilgallon; Treacy, Harper, Stewart, Quinn; Evans, Henderson. Subs: France, Reid, Cotterill, Williamson, Bunn (gk), Little, Camara.

NEWCASTLE UNITED (4-4-2): Harper; Simpson, Coloccini, Kadar, Enrique; Taylor, Smith, Butt, Gutierrez; Nolan; Carroll. Subs: Guthrie, Harewood, Geremi, Krul (gk), Ranger, Tozer, Donaldson.