Dyer closing in on Magpies return

Dyer has not played a competitive match for the Magpies since April

Kieron Dyer is set to play his first 90 minutes for Newcastle since April in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Gretna on Wednesday.

England midfielder Dyer, 27, has been out for six months with a series of persistent hamstring injuries.

Magpies boss Glenn Roeder told the Newcastle Chronicle: "The plan is for Kieron to play in the full 90 minutes.

"If he completes that, we are hoping he will only be 10 days away from being involved with the first team again."

Dyer's recurring hamstring problem has baffled Newcastle's medical team and he has only played 10 matches in 2006.

The England winger has spoken in the past of feeling "suicidal" after constantly breaking down through injury.

However, Roeder has revealed Dyer is staying positive as he is determined to complete his recovery this time.

"Kieron has been working very hard in training and he is going to be vitally important for us this season," said Roeder.

"This is more a build-up to him getting back to action for the first team because his comeback started some time ago. He had been working every day to overcome the problem."