Source: Northern_Echo
Match Preview: Newcastle United v Preston North End
NEWCASTLE Harper Simpson Williamson Coloccini van Aanholt Routledge Smith Nolan Gutierrez Lovenkrands Carroll[LNB] Welbeck Parkin Wallace Sedgwick Coutts James Jones St Ledger Mawene Williams Lonergan PRESTON[LNB] Newcastle subs (from): Krul (gk), Kadar, Hall, R Taylor, Guthrie, Pancrate, Best, Ranger. Preston subs (from): Henderson (gk), Collins, Brown, Treacy, Chilvers, Carter, Mellor, Hart.[LNB] NEWCASTLE: Chris Hughton has no new injury worries to contend with ahead of today's game. Alan Smith is pushing for a recall after starting Wednesday's win over Coventry, and with Preston having scored three goals in the week, the Newcastle skipper could be preferred to Danny Guthrie at the heart of midfield. Peter Lovenkrands and Leon Best are competing for the right to partner Andy Carroll, while Joey Barton and Jose Enrique should both return to full training next week. Suspensions: None Injuries: Enrique (hamstring), S Taylor (knee), Barton (foot), Butt (thigh), Ameobi (hamstring), Vuckic (leg) Last five league games: WDLWD Leading league scorer: Nolan 10 Next game: vs Watford (A) 27/02/10[LNB] PRESTON: Darren Ferguson is set to make changes to his defence after Preston conceded five goals at Derby on Tuesday. Youl Mawene is expected to return to the back four, probably in place of former Sunderland defender Neill Collins. The experienced Callum Davidson is unlikely to feature as he continues to nurse a leg problem, and Richard Chaplow, Paul Parry and Barry Nicholson are also unavailable. Suspensions: None Injuries: Davidson (leg), Chaplow (groin), Parry (knee), Nicholson (leg) Last five league games: LDWLL Leading league scorer: Mellor, Parkin 7 Key Player: Danny Welbeck - The striker has scored two goals in seven games since moving on loan from Manchester United.[LNB] Last season: No corresponding game League head to head: Newcastle 32, Preston 29, Draws 12 Referee: Andy Penn (Walsall) G25 Y45 R1 Ave: 1.84 Last Newcastle game: vs Scunthorpe (A) L1-2 20/10/09 Y2 R0 Odds: H1/2; A9/2; D13/5[LNB] It's a fact: If Newcastle win today, it will be their 500th victory in the second tier of English football. Comment by Paul Fraser: After scoring nine goals in their last two home games, Newcastle should be able to further boost their goals tally. Prediction: 3-0[LNB]
