After Sunday’s 5-1 Barclays Premier League defeat by Liverpool, the club’s injury list has reached double figures and Joe admits that it’s been more or less a case of cancelling training and wrapping all of his players, and see if he can get 11 players to be fit for Hull’s match this weekend.

The only good news that Joe can cheers about is the French defender Sebastien Bassong will return from a one-match ban. Jose Enrique, Nicky Butt and Shola Ameobi all will have late fitness tests.

But Habib Beye will be sidelined for up to two months with a knee problem. Mark Viduka, Obafemi Martins, Claudio Cacapa and Joey Barton are among them who has a long-term injuries.

The Toon boss, on his New Year’s message said that he is keen to take Newcastle United to climb the Premier League table in 2009.

He feels that Newcastle side is still good enough to achieve a respectable position in the second period of the campaign despite all the lengthy injury list.

“I’m proud of what we have achieved so far, and I feel we can build on it.” He said, as quoted from the Chronicle, “I am only looking ahead and only look upwards, and I think we can get a respectable finish because this division is just so close.”

Meanwhile, Shay Given has insisted he is not going to leave the St James’s Park after serving the Toon for as long as 12 seasons. Shay is contracted with Newcastle until 2011.

According to a source close to the 32-year-old goalkeper, who told the Chronicle, Shay always given his all for Newcastle United, and that will never change.

Being frustrated at how things had gone on the pitch against Liverpool was the reason why he left the field so quickly, but to say he’s unhappy at Newcastle is 100 % wrong.

Another report suggesting that Inter Milan’s coach Jose Mourinho could make a move for the Magpies’ skipper and was offering one of his players in a swap deal. Owen is now free to talk to other clubs, but insisted he wants to wait until the end of this season before making it clear about his future at Tyneside.

His straight red card after just 12 minutes in the 2-2 draw at St James’ Park has no solid evidence after the replays shown that Beye won the ball when challenging City cheating forward Robinho in the penalty area.

Full-back Beye, therefore, chose to question the dismissal and the Football Association has decided to over turn the red card.

From the FA statement, as quoted from Sky, said “At a regulatory commission hearing today, a claim for wrongful dismissal from Newcastle United defender Habib Beye was upheld.”

“As a result, Beye’s one-match suspension has been withdrawn.”

Beye is now free to play on the Wear-Tyne derby at macKem’s land this Saturday. With Beye appearance on the right-back, JFK now has more solid defence to answer the challenge from Roy Keane as he wants to end a dismal ‘FOREVER’ record of more than a quarter of a century without a home win.

United side could have been more stronger this weekend as Joey Barton has pledge his willingness to pay his debt for the support from the club that he received during his dark period as United player.

In an article on the Journal today, he says. “One thing I do know is I am sober. I have not had a drink for 10 months – since December 27. That’s a start.”

Joe Kinnear could name Barton among the substitutes for this Saturday fixture against the macKem, but Michael Owen remains on doubt after failing to recover from his latest groin strain injury during the training last week.

Despite Mr Styles ruining another game with a flawed major decision, we came from behind and came close to taking all three points that perhaps would have been deserved in the full context of the entire 95 minutes.

On about 15 minutes, when running through on goal Robinho was superbly tackled from behind by Beye, who cleanly won the ball with Robinho then falling over the defenders leg. Graham Poll on Setanta at HT said “just because the defender wins the ball doesn’t mean it isn’t a penalty”.

If that statement is true the game has changed beyond recognition, and the authorities need to think again, because such a crass interpretation of an entirely non-violent tackle is taking superb defending right out of the game.

We worked out way back into the game through sheer physical effort, and for a good spell in the 2nd half took the game to Citeh. Sadly, (some of) the legs inevitably started running out towards the end and Citeh’s one really incisive move lead to the equaliser.

Given the shambles he inherited, Joe Kinnear has done a quite amazing job of lifting chins and getting this lot playing for each other, and Newcastle United again. Not only that, our defending was vastly improved tonight, with all four five defenders turning in solid performances.

Bassong was perhaps the shakiest, seeming to lack a little in self-confidence tonight. On the other hand, I thought Coloccini had his best game yet for the Toon, and Taylor supported him well. Butt and Guthrie absolutely worked their socks off, and although Shola got the official MOTM Award, personally I thought Guthrie possibly shaded it.

Ameobi battled Citeh’s two big center-backs and kept them busy all night. It as a heartening performance from the lad, and he took his goal pretty well too. He got a deserved standing ovation when he was subbed, and the booboys were noticeably silent tonight.

A point when it could have been three, but another heartening performance to which the crowd responded in full measure, although perhaps Mr Styles was partly responsible for getting the crowd into the game.

Both United and Martins already agreed in principle earlier, but while Newcastle fighting with relegation the concrete deal was delayed. Oba will have the increase in his weekly wage packet to around £90,000. He also agree to taking out the £13 million buy-out clause.

“Oba has been treated so well by everyone in Newcastle and he is happy and wants to stay. We have been in talks with the club and there are a couple of things to sort out, neither of which will break the deal,” said his agent Chris Nathaniel.

After finishing the deal with Martins, United chairman Chris Mort has vowed to start discuss a new deal with our local lad defender Steven Taylor. He was previously offered a new contract back in September, but Taylor was unimpressed with the deal. Under new manager Kevin Keegan, Taylor having insisted all along his only wish is to stay with the club he supported as a boy.

Another good news also coming from our classy right-back Habib Beye. He’s just arrived last summer from Marseille but recently he has shown his true character and demosntrate his pace when operating as a wing-back under Kevin Keegan. Beye enjoy his new role as much the Geordies love to see more of him so he has spoke of his desire to extend his present deal at Newcastle.

“I want to stay here for a lot of years,” he said as quoted from the Telegraph, “I have two years on my contract and maybe I have to speak with the manager for more years. I love this club and I love the city.”

“When I left Marseilles it was difficult because I played there for four years and everyone liked me. You come here and you don’t know the country and you don’t know the club. But when I came here everyone was friendly and the fans were brilliant. The stadium is incredible and it gives me great pleasure to play there.”

Reading started brightly, and we really struggled to get on top, principally because we couldn’t a grip on midfield. This was where, for me, the team showed real bottle, fighting their individual battles, and and battling for each other – refusing to allow Reading to get a firm foothold in the game, until genuine class could come to the fore.

We scored against the run of play with a typical Oba Martins goal – which must have been a dagger to Reading’s heart – and we never looked back.

A 2nd goal just before half-time, well created by Beye, and superbly put away by Owen – although he looked as though he may have been marginally offside to me – effectively ended the game as a contest, and we got well on top in the 2nd, although to be fair Reading never lay down.

Essentially a good team performance, with players playing for each other, but some good individual performances. I wouldn’t really like to single out anyone in particular because no one put in less than a good shift.

David Edgar filled in for the injured Steven Taylor, and started nervously making a few errors. However, supported by Beye and Faye, he played his way into the game, had a good 2nd half, and overall his peformance was very satisfactory.

The relief around SJP this afternoon was apparent, and everyone went home happy at a decent performance, and in the knowledge that Premier League footy has been secured. Let’s hope this is the last time we have to endure this kind of torture.