Source: Daily_Mail
NEWCASTLE v Birmingham: Steven Taylor to start in defence after Mike Williamson setback
ShareNewcastle defender Steven Taylor will start against Birmingham on Saturday after Mike Williamson's season was brought to a premature close by an arm fracture.[LNB]Williamson, who was due to undergo surgery yesterday afternoon, joins James Perch on the sidelines for the remaining three games of the Barclays Premier League campaign after the full-back damaged his knee during the warm-up at Liverpool last Sunday.[LNB] No way past: Taylor is set for a return to the side[LNB]Manager Alan Pardew had hoped to be able to include French winger Hatem Ben Arfa in the squad for the first time since October 3, when he suffered a double leg break at Manchester City, but he has had a setback in training and is unlikely to figure until the new season.[LNB]Stephen Ireland and Leon Best (both ankle) had already been told they will not be involved in the concluding games, while Danny Guthrie (shin), Alan Smith (also ankle) and Dan Gosling (knee) continue to work their way back to fitness.[LNB]Provisional squad (from): Harper, Krul, Simpson, Ferguson, Enrique, Coloccini, S. Taylor, R. Taylor, Tiote, Barton, Gutierrez, Nolan, Vuckic, Tavernier, Richardson, Lovenkrands, Ameobi, Ranger, Kuqi. [LNB]CLICK HERE FOR THE WEEKEND TEAM NEWS IN THE BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE[LNB] Explore more:People: Danny Guthrie, Hatem Ben Arfa, Steven Taylor, Leon Best, Alan Smith Places: Newcastle, Birmingham, Liverpool
