Venue: St James Park Sunday 10th March K/O 3PM Team News Newcastle United are still without goalkeeper Tim Krul and captain Fabricio Colocinni. Papiss Cisse didnt travel to Russia on Thursday with a virus but Newcastle are hopeful he will be fit to start in this one after sitting out the 0-0 Europa League draw with Anzhi. Alan Pardew has also labelled Shola Ameobi a doubt for the game. Hatem Ben Arfa, who did start up front in the Europa League midweek, is a doubt and two games in a week could be too much of a risk after playing his first football since December on Thursday. Yoan Gouffran, who is ineligible for Europa League action for The Magpies, will likely return to the starting line-up, easing United's forward issues. Mathieu Debuchy also returns. For Stoke, Michael Owen and Matthew Etherington both face late fitness test before this one but the visitors are hopeful both will be available. They are definitely without Robert Huth who is suspended, serving the last match in his three game ban.
Match Preview
Newcastle go in to this game hoping to continue their recent mini revival. Stoke will be looking to reverse an awful run of form and their recent away form to take something from The Magpies. Newcastles season has seen an upturn for the better since their influx of French signings at the back end of Januray. Newcastle have lost just two of their last 8 in all competitions and can pull 9 points clear of the drop zone with a win here. They will be hoping that their trip to Moscow on Thursday wont hinder them here, which it didnt after their trip to Ukraine when they returned home to beat Southampton 4-2. The new signings have seen home form also improve winning their last two with impressive wins against Chelsea and Southampton and the Toon Army will be hoping for more of the same today, with the likes of Moussa Sissoko particularly impressing. Stoke will be desperate for three points here as they are on an awful run. The Potters have won just one of their last nine in the league and Newcastle can overtake them with a big win. Stoke havent found things easy on the road though and have won just once on their travels, and that was back at the start of December. Newcastle will be hopeful of repeating last seasons result when they beat Stoke 3-0 at St James Park but Stoke will take strength from earlier in the season when they turned around a 1-0 deficit to beat Newcastle at The Britannia.