Sam Allardyce gives a first start to right-back Habib Beye to the exclusion of local youngster Steven Taylor – who is on the subs bench. Sam also welcomes back Mark Viduka into the starting line-up while Jose Enrique is included among the substitutes after finally recovering from his hamstring injury.
Nicky Butt will make his 500th career appearance and 21 year-old winger James Milner the 200th of his career.
Habib Beye – makes first start at right-back
Only Lee Bowyer of the former Newcastle players will start for West Ham while Scott Parker and Craig Bellamy did not travel with the squad. Nobby Solano did travel but surprisingly was not included on the subs’ bench. Kieron Dyer is out for a long time with his broken leg.
Teams:
Newcastle: Steve Harper, Habib Beye, Cacapa, David Rozehnal, Charles N’Zogbia, Alan Smith, Geremi, Nicky Butt, James Milner, Michael Owen, Mark Viduka
Subs: Shay Given, Jose Enrique, Oba Martins, Abdoulaye Faye, Steven Taylor
West Ham: Robert Green, Lucas Neill, Anton Ferdinand, Matthew Upson, George McCartney, Lee Bowyer, Hayden Mullins, Mark Noble, Matt Etherington, Carlton Cole, Dean Ashton
Subs: Freddie Ljungberg, Jonathan Spector, James Collins, Richard Wright, Henri Camara
Referee: Mike Riley
82 comments so far
Sinead
Sep 23, 2007 at 3:48 PM
Comment #81If Given doesn’t start against Arsenal I’d pretty much put my money on it that he’ll be gone come January. What exactly is Sam doing like.
big pea ov the weab
Sep 24, 2007 at 12:38 AM
Comment #82a thought beye was lacking match fit ness he was nakerd early in second half