Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear is currently recovering from heart surgery, and assistant Chris Hughton is in caretaker charge of the Premier League strugglers. Kinnear is looking to return on 11th April, but Newcastle managing director Derek Llambias insists the former Wimbledon chief will only be allowed to return if he is ready.

Llambias said: "Joe is desperate to come back, but we have to be sensible with him.

"If anything we are going to have to hold him back at times because he is so enthusiastic. We can't have him leaping around the touchline."

Llambias, though, has dismissed rumours that Kinnear has suffered a set back in his rehabilitation process.

"Joe is looking good and feeling a lot stronger. I've been to see him this week and he was back to his old self," he added.

"He goes for tests on 6th April and as long as the results come back OK, he will be back at the training ground for a couple of days before the Stoke game and we'll take it from there."