Newcastle v Everton match preview

After a lengthy break, Newcastle returns to action as Everton visits St James Park. Further to their most recent match, a 3-2 victory over West Brom, the Magpies are thirteenth in the table. Four points above the drop zone the entire focus of the remaining matches is a race to safety with a target of thirty-eight points confidently staving off relegation to which points at home is an absolute must.

With Joe Kinnear convalescing, Chris Hughton will steward the clubs direction and he has the fortune having Oba Martins, Mark Viduka and Alan Smith back from injury and Jonás Gutiérrez returning from the sin-bin. Unfortunately the match comes too soon for Michael Owen, Andy Carroll, Danny Guthrie, Ignacio González, Xisco, Habib Beye and Joey Barton.

Surging Everton are one of the best stories of the Premier League this year and at sixth in the table are on the prowl for a spot in the Europa League. Combining a youth lineup of Marouane Fellaini, Jack Rodwell and Dan Gosling with a host of quality veterans led by Tim Cahill, Joleon Lescott and Phil Jagielka, Everton reaffirms the notion of a quality side built through brilliant coaching and development. David Moyes will however be without Tim Cahill and Tony Hibbert, who are in the sin-bin and Marouane Fellaini, Leon Osman and Steven Pienaar are all questionable for the match.