Republic of Ireland defender Stephen Carr has made a dramatic return to fitness and is named in the Newcastle squad for FA Cup duty today despite recent fears he would miss the rest of the season.
Just 10 days ago, Newcastle boss Graeme Souness said the full-back would require surgery on a knee injury and that "hopefully we can get him back on the pitch in August."
But Carr has deferred the operation and is included in the Newcastle squad to face Coventry in the FA Cup fourth round.
The Dubliner sustained the injury last November in the 3-1 defeat to Manchester United and has not played for the first team since. The injury is unrelated to his previous knee problems.
The news will come as a massive boost to Ireland manager Brian Kerr who had feared losing the full back for the two World Cup 2006 qualifiers against Israel in March and June and the visit of the Faroe Islands in the same month.
Carr's team-mate Andy O'Brien has secured his immediate future by agreeing a one-year contract extension with the Tyneside club.
The 25 year-old has been pushed further down the pecking order since Jean-Alain Boumsong's arrival from Rangers this month and was the subject of transfer speculation with a move to Aston Villa or Wigan touted.
But O'Brien has seen a window of opportunity open following the hamstring injury sustained by Boumsong at Arsenal last Sunday. That injury is set to sideline the Frenchman for three to four weeks.
Souness has endured a frustrating week with Craig Bellamy's shenanigans diverting attention away from today's Cup tie. But amid all that controversy, the manager found time yesterday to praise O'Brien's commitment.
"He's thrown down the gauntlet," Souness said. "He's said 'Look, I don't care who you are signing, I'm going to get in your team', and he'll be given every opportunity to do that. That's the attitude I want here.
"There was none of that 'I'm going to consider my future' when we signed Jean-Alain Boumsong for a lot of money. It was 'I'm going to show you what I'm made of, I'm going to show you I'm good enough and should be in the team'.
"That's what I want from everybody."
Elsewhere, Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Nick Colgan has joined Dundee United on loan until the end of the season. He recently lost his place at Barnsley and could start against Dundee today.