Newcastle Preview – Away, Dec 5th

It’s the longest away trip of the season tomorrow as the Golden Boys take the long trek up to Geordie Land and Newcastle-upon-Tyne to face the Magpies.

Despite all the on and off-field struggles, speculation and hilarity, Chris Hughton’s outfit have made a really decent stab at the Championship in their first season outside the top flight for yonks and currently sit top, two points of fellow promotion hopefuls, West Brom.

After comfortably seeing off Paulo Sousa’s attractive young Swansea side last weekend, it’s a similar proposition this week as Malky’s young guns come roaring into Newcastle on the back of a 3-0 humbling at Selhurst Park.

Don Cowie will be back for the Hornet’s and most likely in place of Jon Harley in what looks like being the only Watford change.

That said, there are whispers of a Jay DeMerit comeback – so watch this space!

The Magpies welcome back No.1 Steve Harper after a back problem whilst duo Andy Carroll and Nicky Butt return after illness and calf injury.

‘Goal-machine’ Shoala Ameobi could well be named amongst the subs after being out since September with a foot problem. Prior to that the man had been on fire for the first time in his Toon career!

The man charged with filling the void of Ameobi and Carroll has found his start to life at the sportsdirect.com @ St James’ Park Stadium [How can you not laugh?!] pretty tricky, but notched a powerful header last weekend. That man is the perennially hit-and-miss Marlon Harewood, who could prove a hit on Tyneside if he scores the goals that take the Toon back to the big time. Three in six suggest a good start for the former West Ham and Forest forward.

In midfield, Scouser Kevin Nolan is pulling the strings alongside tenacious former forward-turned midfield scrapper, Alan Smith. Former Bolton skipper Nolan has grabbed nine this season already and John Eustace will have to have the shackles well and truly on the 27 year old to deny him double figures for the campaign.

Likely Newcastle XI
Harper
Simpson Coloccini Taylor Enrique
Gutierrez Nolan Smith (c) Guthrie
Lovenkrands Harewoood

Likely Watford XI
Loach
Hodson Mariappa (c) Cathcart Doyle
Cleverley Lansbury Eustace Cowie
Helguson
Graham

Form Guides:
Newcastle: WWWWWW
Watford: DWLWWL