Emre Close to Turkey Return

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Byline: By Stuart Rayner

Emre may be allowed to play for Turkey a week on Wednesday, despite being ruled out of action for Newcastle United tomorrow.

The former Inter Milan and Galatasaray midfielder has had a stop-start opening to his Magpies career, courtesy of a hamstring injury picked up on international duty in Sofia. The problem will keep him out of tomorrow's Premiership game at Portsmouth.

Emre's initial injury prompted a tirade from his new club manager, Graeme Souness, against "mickey mouse" games but the Scot is nonetheless willing to allow Emre to turn out for his country next month.

By the time of the October 12 match he will not have …