Season 2007-2008

FULHAM

 v

NEWCASTLE UNITED

- Peter Ramage (knee) is out for the season after getting inured at Middlesbrough.
- Stephen Carr (hamstring) is injured with currently no return date mentioned.
- Michael Owen (thigh) isn't considered for this one with next week more a realistic return date.
- Abdoulaye Faye (calf) stays on the injured list.
- Damien Duff (ankle) made a goal scoring return in a friendly this week but hasn't been considered for this trip.
- Cacapa (knee) returns to the squad.

Joey Barton is coming to fruition, for me, not just because of his quality, but also the energy he has. He played three games in a week last week and finished for the first time this season against Birmingham - and he did not look that fatigued, so that's very important.

We are getting to know each other a bit more - Alan Smith up front, Steven Taylor at the back, Habib Beye at right-back showing the sort of form he did at Marseille. Players are starting to play to their best on a regular basis, and that's what will get us consistent results."

"It will be a massive boost to have more than 4,000 Geordies inside Craven Cottage on Saturday night and I hope we give them something to cheer about. It's incredible really that we can get so many fans for a tea-time kick off in London and so close to Christmas. They have been amazing in the last few games and hopefully with their backing we'll get the win we so desperately want at Fulham."

3 games in 11 days against some of the Premiership's lesser teams gives us a real opportunity to go on an unbeaten run and get ourselves in the Top 10 for the New Year.

No Premiership game is easy (as we have proved at Derby and Reading away already this season) but we must start to play better against this type of opposition. The fact that we haven't kept a clean sheet on the road for 20 Premiership games, means the owens aren't good.

The defence has still looked extremely shaky at times under Big Sam, with both Cacapa and David Rozenhal being dramatically exposed to the rigours of the Premiership game. However, things are starting to settle down with Habib Beye looking more and more assured at right-back and the return of Steven Taylor to centre-half. The continuous to play Charles N'Zogbia at left-back seems at strange one on paper but after shipping plenty of goals and with Big Sam talking more about players with Premiership experience, he is perhaps trying to protect Jose Enrique by easing him into Premiership life.

With Cacapa being back there is a good case for him come straight back into the starting lineup for Rozenhal but at the same time we do need to start naming a more consistent back 4, as that is the best way for them to improve together.

Big Sam has spoke about how Joey Barton starting to improve with ever game and there is some truth in that. He is still a long way off the peak of his powers, which saw him win his only England cap last season, but an improving Barton is only to the benefit of the team.

Another fantastic away support is set to invade the big smoke as we go in search of our first away win since the opening day of the season. The time is right for the players to give something back to the loyal fans.