Blackburn Rovers vs Newcastle United - Match Preview

Blackburn Rovers entertain Newcastle United at Ewood Park for the second time this season in tonight's 8pm Premier League encounter. Blackburn needed extra time to defeat Newcastle in the League Cup earlier in the season but did lose without showing as much as a whimper in the league game at St. James's Park. Despite still being in the relegation zone, Blackburn are on something of a good run of form with seven points gained in their last 12. Newcastle are coming off the backs of two straight away defeats to Fulham and Brighton. Team News Blackburn midfielder David Dunn should return to the squad after recovering from a hip injury but Steve Keen will be ruing the loss of striker Yakubu. New transfer deadline day signings Marcus Olsson (twin brother of Martin) and former Newcastle youngster Bradley Orr were not registered in time to play. Christopher Samba should return to the starting line-up depending on how effected he was by not being able to secure a move in the window. His CB partner Ryan Nelson, who Spurs boss Harry Redknapp came close to signing at the end of the window, is on the road to recovery after training with the squad yesterday. For Newcastle, it was announced a couple of hours ago that Yohan Cabaye will be serving for the first of his three-match suspension today after being charged by the FA for violent conducting concerning an incident in Saturday's FA cup tie at Brighton. Top scorer and big £10 million money signing Senegalese pair Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse respectively don't return from the African Cup of Nations until tomorrow and won't play tonight. There is some good news for Newcastle with captain Fabricio Coloccini returning to the starting line-up after missing Saturday's FA Cup defeat against Brighton. Steven Taylor, Sylvain Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Steve Harper and Nile Ranger though remain on the injured list. Line-ups from; Blackburn (from): Robinson, Martin Olsson, Givet, Dann, Dunn, Pedersen, Petrovic, Nzonzi, Lowe, Hoilett, Goodwillie, Bunn, Hanley, Henley, Formica, Vukcevic, Rochina, Modeste, Samba. Newcastle (from): Krul, Elliot, Harper, Simpson, R. Taylor, Santon, Ferguson, Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Kadar, Cabaye, Obertan, Ben Arfa, Gutierrez, Gosling, Abeid, Vuckic, Best, Shola Ameobi, Lovenkrands.