Newcastle are standing by midfielder Emre as he fights to clear his name over allegations of racism.

The 26-year-old Turkish international was charged by the Football Association last weekend with using racially-aggravated language during heated exchanges with Everton's Tim Howard, Joleon Lescott and Joseph Yobo at Goodison Park on December 30.

Emre intends to deny the charge and his club will back his claims of innocence.

The former Inter Milan midfielder will be missing again for his side's FA Cup third-round replay with Birmingham tomorrow night, but manager Glenn Roeder insists that is the result of the calf injury which sidelined him at the weekend and nothing else.

Roeder said: "The allegations against Emre of racial abuse have knocked him sideways. He is very upset about them and he is denying them all.

"The club is supporting him and standing by him. But this has nothing to do with his absence from the team at the moment. He has a calf strain and once that clears up, he will be available and up for selection."

The charges against Emre have come as an unwelcome distraction for Roeder and his coaching staff as they attempt to continue their side's recent improvement.

Sunday's 3-2 Premiership victory at Tottenham, with the Turk and skipper Scott Parker having joined an injury list which is showing few signs of quickly reducing in length, came as a major boost.

However, no-one at St James' Park is taking anything for granted after seeing victory snatched from their grasp at the death by Steve Bruce's 10 men in the original tie.