Date: Thursday, December 26 Venue: St James' Park Kick-Off: 15:00 Can Newcastle continue their recent good run of form when they take on Stoke on Boxing Day and keep up their push for a Europa League spot in the New Year?
Team News
Newcastle will be without suspended Chieck Tiote for the visit of Stoke after the midfielder picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against Crystal Palace. Vurnon Anita is likely to step in as a replacement and will compete for a spot in the starting XI with Hatem Ben Arfa. Stoke boss Mark Hughes must decide whether to continue with Charlie Adam in his midfield or revert to Stephen Ireland - Adam impressed in his side's 2-1 win over Aston Villa while Ireland was ineligible to play against his parent club. Defender Robert Huth is out until the New Year as he continues his rehabilitation from a knee operation. (Sky Sports)
Key Stats
Newcastle are at home on Boxing Day for only the second time since 2001, since which they have won just once on this day. Mark Hughes is on his best unbeaten run as a manager (two wins, two draws) since 2011 when he was in charge of Fulham. Newcastle United are looking for their 200th Premier League victory at St James Park in the Premier League. Jon Walters has scored more goals against Newcastle than versus any other Premier League opponent (4).
Newcastle entertain Stoke on Boxing Day with both sides looking to maintain their impressive unbeaten runs in the Premier League. The Magpies have lost just one in their last eight, and are bang in contention for the Europa League after hitting their stride under Alan Pardew this season. Pardew's side also come into this encounter off the back of a morale-boosting 3-0 win over Crystal Palace and have not lost at St James' Park in any of their last five league games. Stoke too are in good form after enjoying a reversal in fortunes under Mark Hughes. The Potters beat Aston Villa 2-1 in their last outing to stretch their unbeaten run to four in the topflight. Away from the Britannia, however, Hughes's side haven't been terrific this season - you have to go back to August to find their last away win, 1-0 against West Ham. I'm going for a comfortable Newcastle win here and backing the Magpies to go on and challenge for fifth in the New Year. Prediction: 2-0
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
