Howard out of Toon test

Sickness has ruled him out of the game and he is being kept in quarantine to avoid the bug spreading throughout manager Simon Davey's squad.

Howard, the stand in skipper while Paul Reid is serving a three match ban, did not travel yesterday as the players set off to stay last night in the north east close to the Premier League club.

And as Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce prepared to unleash the world class talent of striker Michael Owen on Barnsley, Howard's absence was not the only problem troubling Davey.

He is set to stand down strike pair Istvan Ferenczi and Kayode Odejayi and cannot play new centre back Steve Foster.

Ferenczi has an ankle injury and played against Plymouth on Saturday after being given a pain killing injection. Odejayi, who was replaced by Kim Christensen on Saturday, has knee damage.

Davey may hold them both back in the hope they will be fit for Saturday's Championship game at West Brom.

Foster is definitely out of tonight's second round cup tie. He is cup tied, having played for Burnley against Grimsby in the first round.

Loanee Anderson de Silva will not play either. He has been refused permission by Everton.

Davey has drafted in Martin Devaney, Grant McCann and Dwayne Mattis into the squad.

Striker Miguel Mostto looks set to return to the team and could partner Christensen.

Davey could revert to a 4-4-2 to compensate for the loss of Foster, using Dennis Souza and Lewin Nyatanga as centre backs, flanked by Dominik Werling and Rob Kozluk.

Davey was at Middlesbrough for Newcastle's 2-2 draw there on Sunday.

"I expect them to make changes, I expect Michael Owen to start," he said. "Our players have seen their players on the telly but there are one or two things we've told them.

"We are going to one of the world's biggest clubs, we want to make sure that the players don't freeze on the occasion."

For Newcastle Owen will start his first game for the club this season, while full-back Jose Enrique could make his debut.

Peter Ramage is likely to be sidelined for several months, while Stephen Carr will be out for a matter of weeks with a hamstring tear.

Emre (calf) returns to contention, but Celestine Babayaro (hamstring), Joey Barton (metatarsal) and Damien Duff (ankle) are still missing.

Newcastle United from: Harper, Given, Solano, Enrique, N'Zogbia, Rozehnal, Taylor, Cacapa, Milner, Geremi, Butt, Smith, Emre, Pattison, Viduka, Martins, Ameobi, Owen.

Barnsley probable: Muller, Kozluk, Souza, Nyatanga, Werling, Devaney, Johnson, McCann, Ricketts, Mostto, Christensen, Colgan, Mattis, Togwell, Atkinson, Coulson,

Barnsley Reserves were beaten 1-0 by Sheffield United last night at Oakwell. Christian Nade scored and was sent off in the last minute. Barnsley keeper Kyle Letheren saved a penalty from Stephen Quinn.

Barnsley Reserves: Letheren, Smith, Meynell, Jennings, Waterfall, Heslop, Ormsby (Mellor 81 mins), White, Warburton, Adams, Fedorenko.