Newcastle welcome West Bromwich Albion to St James’ Park this weekend with the Magpies looking to end an embarrassing run of eight defeats on the bounce.
The Magpies are rock bottom of the form table and have scored just five goals in their last ten games, conceding twenty-three in the process. They are hoping this will be the weekend they secure a much-needed victory to all but secure their Premier League safety.
On the other hand, The Baggies will arrive at St James’ Park tomorrow, on the back of a famous victory at Old Trafford last weekend, hoping to mathematically secure their Premier League safety. As it stands, they are seven points clear of 18th placed Sunderland and could secure their participation in next season’s competition with a win on Tyneside.
Although John Carver bigged himself up as the ‘best coach in the Premier League’ in his pre-match press conference, the Geordie faithful are sceptical heading into this weekend’s fixture, with their beloved Newcastle sitting just two points off the drop zone. Should Carver’s side suffer yet another defeat tomorrow, and results elsewhere go against them, Newcastle could be in the relegation zone with just two games left to play.
When the two clubs met in the reverse fixture earlier this season, Alan Pardew’s men came away with all three points – thanks to goals from Ayoze Perez and Fabricio Coloccini.
Team news
Rolando Aarons will be in the squad after featuring in an under-21 game earlier this week but Siem de Jong and Adam Armstrong – who also participated in the fixture – are doubtful after picking up knocks. Papiss Cisse is back from suspension but, following such a lengthy spell on the sidelines, he is severely lacking match fitness. Paul Dummett underwent a scan and he will be reassessed once the results are back.
West Brom are likely to be without James Morrison for the game after sustaining an injury. Victor Anichebe is expected to start upfront alongside Saido Berahino should Tony Pulis revert to a 4-4-2 formation.
Provisional squads
Newcastle United: Krul, Woodman, Coloccini, Dummett, Taylor, Satka, Sterry, Abeid, Anita, Colback, Sissoko, Gouffran, Cabella, De Jong, Ameobi, Obertan, Gutierrez, Aarons, Kemen, Cisse, Riviere, Perez, Armstrong, Ferreyra.
West Bromwich Albion: Myhill, Rose, Gamboa, Pocognoli, Dawson, McAuley, Lescott, Olsson, Wisdom, Brunt, Yacob, Morrison, Fletcher, Gardner, Mulumbu, Sessegnon, McManaman, Berahino, Anichebe, Ideye.
