FK Ventspils v Newcastle
Uefa Cup
2nd qualifying round, 1st leg
Thursday, 10 August
Skonto Stadium
Kick-off: 1850 BST
Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder faces a selection dilemma ahead of his side's Uefa Cup second qualifying round first-leg tie against FK Ventspils.
Unsettled pair Jean Alain Boumsong and Albert Luque are in the squad but would be ineligible in Europe for prospective future employers should they play.
But Roeder has no new injuries to contend with following last weekend's friendly draw against Villarreal.
And Damien Duff should make his first start since his £5m move Chelsea.
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Newcastle (from): Given, Babayaro, Carr, Taylor, Bramble, Moore, Emre, N'Zogbia, Parker, Duff, Butt, Ameobi, Solano, Milner, Ramage, Pattison, Boumsong, Luque, Harper.
Roeder issues warning on defence
Newcastle boss Glen Roeder says his side must eliminate defensive errors to avoid another European embarrassment.
The Magpies face Latvian side Ventspils in the second qualifying round, first leg of the Uefa Cup on Thursday.
However, they are haunted by the errors led to their exit from last season's Intertoto Cup semi-final and have been sloppy in pre-season friendlies.
\"Mistakes that were made can be ironed out but players of this quality should not be making them,\" said Roeder.
Newcastle failed to qualify for the Uefa Cup last season from the backdoor route of the Intertoto Cup when they crashed out to Deportivo La Coruna in an error-strewn semi-final.
Roeder's team have conceded six goals in two recent pre-season friendlies.
The Magpies boss added: \"Maybe with them being friendlies we were a little too relaxed when defending.
\"We left keeper Shay Given exposed but we have got those games out of the way now and hopefully those mistakes will be eradicated.\"
Bramble goal delights boss Roeder
Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder paid tribute to Titus Bramble after he scored the winner against FK Ventspils.
Bramble's header ensured the Magpies won their their Uefa Cup second qualifying round first-leg tie 1-0.
And Roeder said: \"Titus has chipped in with a few goals over the last half dozen games.
\"He has now scored another that gives us a big advantage in the return leg but we must make sure we are just as motivated for that as we were here.\"
Interview: Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder
Roeder added that he had been wary of the threat posed by their Latvian opponents, who are more than half-way through their league season.
\"It goes without saying we are pleased to come to Riga and win,\" added the Magpies boss.
We are pleased to have scored and taken the lead away from home
Glenn Roeder
\"We prepared as if we were playing Manchester United or Chelsea. We gave Ventspils that much respect which they deserve.
\"We are pleased to have scored and taken the lead away from home. We changed our system and put two wide players on the pitch and managed to cause Ventspils a few problems.\"
The Toon boss substituted Emre in the second-half, with the Turkish midfielder immediately disappearing down the tunnel.
But Roeder denied that a bust-up with the player.
\"Emre had a slight knock and I was not prepared to take any chances with any of our senior players with the Premiership season so close,\" he said.
\"The tunnel was near the dugout and he had to get to the dressing room for ice.
\"He was just using his experience because if he had come to the dugout first I would have told him to get to the dressing room and get some ice on his injury.\"
