Everton 3, Newcastle United 0.

TO SAY Newcastle have a defensive crisis prior to their clash with Manchester United today would be a wild exaggeration. The club has been on the verge of such adversity for the last six weeks.

When Peter Ramage limped off after 37 minutes with a hamstring strain in United's 3-0 defeat at Everton, the club were officially down to one fit recognised defender, Steven Taylor, for the visit of Sir Alex Ferguson's Premier League leaders.

The thought of facing such a fearsome in-form attacking force, which includes the brilliant Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo, in such a state must send a shudder through the Magpies camp.

United's defence has resembled the Black Knight who fought King Arthur in Monty Python's Holy Grail in recent weeks. They've still kept battling on, despite losing limb after limb in the ferocious fight. But as the Pythonesque comic character and Newcastle have found to their cost on Boxing Day, and again on Saturday against Everton, there is only so far you can go when suffering from such a disability.

Two of the three goals Newcastle conceded against David Moyes' side smacked of schoolboy uncertainty, as they did at the Reebok Stadium, and Phil Neville's strike was nothing more than a fluke.

Victor Anichebe's opening brace were the result of the visiting side being unable to clear its lines from set pieces, whereas Neville scuffed a right footed shot on to his left foot and it looped over Shay Given.

But then what can you expect when you face experienced Premiership campaigners with such an inexperienced back four, which included a one makeshift defender in Nolberto Solano?

Nicky Butt was the latest makeshift defender to make a cameo appearance in the United backline.

And with the injury situation unlikely to change before this afternoon Butt will most probably line up there again against his former side.

Butt was arguably United's best player as they crashed to a painfully ordinary but workmanlike Toffees side.

Newcastle enjoyed plenty of possession and threatened on several occasions. Had Obafemi Martins levelled from the spot two minutes before the break when 1-0 down, after Kieron Dyer was fouled, the visitors could have taken something from the game.

Instead, Martins found row z in one of the worst spot kicks you are ever likely to see.

"There are 3-0 drubbings and there are 3-0s which don't tell the true story," said Roeder. "There were certainly significant turning points in the game, the penalty will be one of them just before half-time.

"In the first ten minutes of the second half Everton did not get in to our half, culminating in a world class save from Tim Howard. Then it sums up our day when Oba Martins jumped and was poised to put us level at 1-1 and Steven Taylor appears from nowhere and knocks him out of the way while trying to score himself.

"The third goal just summed up our afternoon." The 51-year-old Magpies chief reserved special praise for one of United's renaissance men this season.

At one time Butt looked as if he had no career on Tyneside, now he is in the running for the club's player of the year award.

"I would have no problems playing Nicky Butt in any position, apart from goalkeeper obviously," commented Roeder who dismissed the latest speculation linking Newcastle with Joey Barton and Stephen Warnock.

"If I need him to play full back, centre of defence or in off the line in midfield he would do it.

"Peter Ramage gets a hamstring injury and I ask Nicky to play at centre half and he says 'no problem boss'.

That typifies everything you need to know about him. He does not court publicity. He's a quiet, serious person and does not suffer fools easily. He is a great guy to work with every day in training, as all my players are.

"I thought Nicky Butt showed why he has won so many things as a footballer. Whatever you ask him to do he does, he never complains and he does it well. He gave a perfect demonstration of how to play at centre back.

"People once thought he did not have a future at Newcastle and he has turned out to be a very influential player for us this year. I would like to think he has a lot of confidence in me because he knows I believe in him."

Magpies supporters may not share the same confidence ahead of today's clash against the high-flying Red Devils with such depleted ranks.

But as Sheffield United proved against Arsenal at the weekend anything is possible with an injury ravaged side.

Newcastle's defensive problem must be addressed next month, however, or they face being dragged back in to a relegation dog fight.

But saying that United have been ignoring the need for two full backs and a centre half for almost ten years now so fans will not be holding their breaths.

It is most likely another striker will arrive at St James' Park before any defenders, such is the club's transfer policy.