By Martyn Osmond
December 25 2004

Merry Christmas everyone sad enough to be on the net on the day Jesus was born! Like me...Anyway, we look ahead to the Blackburn game now, praying for a 3 points to turn the Toon's season around and make it a Merry Boxing Day!

Blackburn squad: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Johansson, Matteo, Reid, Ferguson, Flitcroft, Emerton, Bothroyd, Dickov, Enckelman, Amoruso, Stead, Gallagher, Pedersen, Thompson, Douglas, Gray, McEveley.

David Thompson returns to the Blackburn side after suspension to face the manager who signed him for Rovers, and Amoruso returns from injury to do the same (Toon fans can only hope he starts, as he is a terrible defender...cue him having a blinder and scoring the winner in the 90th minute). Gresko, Tugay and Short all miss out through injury, while World Cup winner Youri Djorkaeff has, very wisely, pi**ed off.

A number of players with links to the Toon, Friedel who would have been signed by King Kev in 1996 were it not for problems with his work permit, Emerton who would've been signed by Robson were it not for SBR wanting him to play at RB and Pedersen who we allegedly had a look at last season but decided against. Former Carlisle striker Jansen, who Dalglish tried to sign in 97 before Palace nipped in and took him misses out through injury while De Pedro, who Sir Bob declared his admiration for last year, is out of favour at Ewood having failed to make a single appearance since being signed in the summer by Souness. Bonified SMB Michael Gray could also feature, and will no doubt be terrorised by the healthy (if a little hungover) Toon contingent of 4,800.

Toon squad: Given, Harper, Taylor, Bernard, Hughes, Elliott, Bramble, O'Brien, Ramage, Dyer, Jenas, Milner, Robert, Ambrose, Brittain, Kluivert, Bellamy, Ameobi, Guy.

Stevie Carr, Nicky Butt, Ronny Johnsen and Big Al are all still sidelined through injury, all likely to be out till at least the FAC 3rd round tie against Yeading. Robert is included in the squad despite his latest temper tantrum in midweek and is a possible to start. Taylor and Hughes have recovered from the Flu, Bellamy is fit after his back injury and Dyer passed a fitness test late in the week and makes the journey down tonight, although there are still doubts over whether he will start. Ambrose had a slight problem with  his hamstring but should be alright to play. Bowyer is suspended for his petulent sending off at Anfield last weekend.

Probable Toon line-up:

---------------------Given-----------------------

--Taylor------Hughes-------Bramble-----Bernard--

--Ambrose------Dyer---------Jenas-------Milner--

---------------Bellamy-------Kluivert-------------

Subs: Harper, O'Brien, Elliott, Robert, Ameobi.

Souness might go with Robert on the left and little Jimmy Milner on the right, or he might stick Elliott at LB and Olly B. at LM. Also don't be surprised if O'Brien is picked ahead of Stevie Taylor, although that would be a huge mistake in my opinion.

Check out the detailed stats on the 'related threads' link below, very professional and well worth a look!