Newcastle manager Chris Hughton makes as many as four changes to the side which beat Crystal Palace 2-0 on Wednesday night, with full debuts being handed to Wayne Routledge and Patrick van Aanholt.
Chelsea defender van Aanholt only came into Newcastle yesterday, but the lad starts at left back this afternoon, in place of the injured Jose Enrique (hamstring).
But there is no Jonas Gutierrez this afternoon, so we assume Chris doesn’t want to take any risks with the Argentine, who was slightly injured on Wednesday night – and that’s probably a wise decision with so many games coming up.
Routledge came off the bench to make his debut on Wednesday night, but gets his first start this afternoon, after looking more than good in his first action for the Magpies on the right wing.
But a surprise is captain Nicky Butt returning to the line-up, as does Ryan Taylor, who is back from suspension. With this personnel Newcastle may line up in a 4-5-1 system.
Taylor comes in at right-back, Mike Williamson continues alongside Fabricio Coloccini at the center of defense, and is preferred to youngster Tamas Kadar, who has looked solid lately.
Routledge and Danny Guthrie will be the wingers this afternoon, Butt partners Alan Smith in the center. Kevin Nolan will play in a withdrawn forward role off Andy Carroll, which hen usually plays in these away games.
Fitz Hall, who arrived on a loan for the rest of the season from Queens Park Rangers on Friday, is named among the substitutes, along with Tamas Kadar and Peter Lovenkrands, who both started against Crystal Palace.
And would you believe that Nottingham Forest were finally beaten today at Derby County, by 1-0, although WBA won at home 3-1 against Sheffield United – so a win could take Newcastle 6 points clear of Forest with a game in hand.
That’s Forest’s first league defeat since they were beaten at home by Blackpool 1-0 – and that was back on 19th September.
It’s a great opportunity so let’s hope we can take it.
Howay The Lads!!
TEAMS
Leicester City: Chris Weale, Michael Morrison, Wayne Brown, Matt Oakley (c), Andy King, Matty Fryatt, Bruno Berner, Martyn Waghorn, Richie Wellens, Paul Gallagher, Jack Hobbs
Subs: Robbie Nielson, Ryan McGivern, Nobby Solano, Steve Howard, Lloyd Dyer, Conrad Logan, Danny N’Guessan
Newcastle United: Steve Harper, Ryan Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson, Patrick van Aanholt, Wayne Routledge, Nicky Butt (c), Alan Smith, Danny Guthrie, Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll
Subs: Tim Krul, Tamas Kadar, Jonas Gutierrez, Peter Lovenkrands, Nile Ranger, Fitz Hall, Fabrice Pancrate
163 comments so far
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 7:40 PM
Comment #161yeah, really gutted about moses going to wigan. That’s just garbage. And I don’t hate Hughton for what happened today. Someone just needs to explain to him that when you play Nicky Butt, your team is cursed. You will lose, or draw to a much lesser side. That’s just how it is. I will never watch a match that Butt plays in again because every one I’ve ever watched where he plays, we’ve lost. I knew it from the start today. We need to lose the Butt fcker.
OHurley
Jan 30, 2010 at 7:45 PM
Comment #162anyway- I’m oot. take care o’ yersels m8s
kossey
Jan 30, 2010 at 8:48 PM
Comment #163can someone please tell me what andy carroll actually does on the pitch? for such a big lad, he cant hold the ball up and bring other people into play, he cant win a header and when he does he heads it to no one, he never has a shot as hes always on his arse and his positional play is shocking, sorry he just isnt upto to it, he raves on about wanting games to play and when he does play he dosent contribute anything, to me id rather give ranger a go least when he comes on he actually looks like a striker and can do all of the above mentioned he just needs games. i think andy carrol is going to be another shola, gets a contract and thinks hes made it, sorry but he has alot to learn and unfortunatly we dont have time to carry him