Quote of the day

"Nile Ranger has been handed a chance to resurrect his Newcastle United career after being included in Alan Pardew's squad for Sunday's trip to Southampton. And the striker - who started his career with the Saints before moving to Tyneside - has revealed how a new, improved attitude and work ethic has put him back into senior contention following his return from injury this month."

Over on the official club site, the Lone Ranger convinces himself that the reason he's back in sort-of-favour is all down to his personal efforts at rehabilitation and nothing whatsoever to do with our acute injury crisis.

Perhaps his inclusion in the squad is just the Silver Fox playing mind games, though. Lest we forget, our errant striker was on Southampton's books for a year between 2007 and 2008, during which time he served an eleven-week sentence in a young offender's institute for his involvement in an armed street robbery - so the Saints are hardly likely to welcome the sight of him...