Newcastle United take on Aston Villa at St. James’ Park in a 4pm Premier League kick-off this afternoon. The match is not screened live on UK television.

Here’s the team news ahead of the game;

Alan Pardew is once again unable to call upon Cheick Tiote as his calf injury has yet to heal. Dutch international midfielder and United’s only big money signing of the summer, Vurnon Anita, will once again deputise, as he did at Stamford Bridge. Shola Ameobi misses out with a hamstring injury he picked up in the warm-up before the home game against Spurs a fortnight ago.

After suffering a possible cruciate knee injury in United’s 1-0 Europa League qualifier at home against Atromitos on Thursday, The Magpies announced that dead ball specialist Ryan Taylor would be out of action for “several months” and he seems unlikely to play again this year. That game also saw utility man James Perch leave the pitch with a neck problem and he looks unlikely to be available today.

Youngsters Sammy Ameobi and Shane Ferguson remain sidelined.

For Aston Villa, new signing Joe Bennett was included in the squad and he could be in line to make his debut. The left-back moved from Middlesbrough during the week in a £2.5 million deal, plus add-on clauses.

Defender Ciaran Clark returns from suspension after being red carded against Everton last weekend. He sat out of the midweek Capital One Cup victory over Tranmere.

Shay Given, Charles N’Zogbia and Stephen Ireland all return to their former stamping ground, hoping that Villa can collect their first points of the season and indeed their first on this ground since the 2007/2008 campaign.

 

Line-ups from;

Newcastle (from): Krul, Elliot, Harper, Santon, Tavernier, Coloccini, Williamson, S Taylor, Simpson, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Obertan, Marveaux, Gosling, Anita, Bigirimana, Amalfitano, Vuckic, Cisse, Ba, Campbell.

Villa (from): Given, Guzan, Lowton, Lichaj, Clark, Vlaar, Baker, Herd, El Ahmadi, Bannan, Ireland, Delph, Holman, N’Zogbia, Bent, Weimann, Delfouneso, Burke, Johnson, Williams.

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