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Season 2009/2010 - Match 5

NEWCASTLE UNITED

 v

LEICESTER CITY

Newcastle United face a striker shortage with Andy Carroll and Xico both ruled out with groin injuries, while top goalscorer Shola Ameobi is a serious doubt.

Jonas Gutierrez will have a tests to determine if he fit enough to play, but fellow midfielders, Nicky Butt and Joey Barton, have been fit to return.

Leicester hope to be cleared to play left-back Ryan McGivern, who has joined on loan from Manchester City.

Striker Steve Howard should recover from a hamstring injury to face the club he supported as a boy.

Match Preview:

Newcastle United host Leicester City in a live Monday TV game that rounds off a long Bank Holiday weekend in the UK.

The off-field drama at Newcastle shows no signs of ending, with the latest takeover deadline (Friday) set by the board again passing without any official news, so the fact that on-pitch Newcastle are vying for a fourth successive league win for the first time since April 2006 is quite remarkable.

Further more at the weekend defeats for Cardiff, Middlesboro, and a draw for West Brom means a victory or draw would see Newcastle go top of the table.

Leicester City themselves have started the season with renewed vigour, last season's League One Champions, are also unbeaten and a 3 goal victory would mean the Foxes would go top of the league instead.

The Foxes are managed by former Newcastle assistant manager Nigel Pearson. Pearson has done a great job in rebuilding the fortunes of the club by bringing them straight back to the Championship in his first year in charge.  Striker Matt Fryatt has got 3 League goals this season and is only two goals away from a half century of goals for the club.

Injuries to Newcastle strikers Andy Carroll, Xisco, and Shola Ameobi gives Chris Hughton his first real selection headache of the season.

The only fit recognised striker is 18 year-old Nile Ranger who has only appeared in 3 senior games and is yet to score.  Given the inexperience of Ranger and with the return of Nicky Butt and Joey Barton there may be a case for Alan Smith to reprise his former role of striker, but with no first-team goal in 3 years that might be just as much of a gamble as starting Ranger.

The fact that Hughton has already used midfielder Kevin Nolan, in pre-season and against Crystal Palace, in a more advanced role it would be sensible to suggest that Nolan will again be used as a second forward regardless of who is given the main striking role.

With the lack of forward options, reserve team strikers Wesley Ngo Baheng, Frank Wiafe Danquah, and Fabio Zamblera, will all be vying for a place on the bench.

After being rested for the midweek League Cup victory over Huddersfield Steve Harper, Steven Taylor, and Fabricio Coloccini are all set to return to the starting line-up.

When the match kick-off's there will be less than 24 hours left before the transfer deadline closes (it has been extended to 1st Sept 5pm because of the Bank Holiday) and every Newcastle fan is hoping we can survive that little bit longer without losing Steven Taylor.  The recent moves of Sylvain Distin’s to Everton and Richard Dunne to Aston Villa will have hopefully have eased Taylor's chances of moving to Goodison Park or Villa Park.
 
So yet again the Toon Army go into the match with more than one off-field distraction, and despite our striking problems the mood amongst most fans will be high.  Leicester will be no easy push overs, but given the strength of the two sides and home advantage, Newcastle United should be favourites for a win.