Nottm Forest v Newcastle preview

16 October 2009 12:45
In-form Nottingham Forest will look to continue their recent good form against table-topping Newcastle at the City Ground on Saturday. Billy Davies' men have won their last three Championship games taking them to within a point of the play-offs following a sluggish start to the season. Meanwhile the Magpies arrive on the back of two successive home draws against QPR and Bristol City but still sit three points above second place West Brom at the top. The international break has given both teams two weeks' rest and it remains to be seen whether they will be refreshed or rusty. Forest news Striker Robert Earnshaw will miss out having suffered a calf injury last week while training with Wales and is expected to be out for around four weeks. Davies will hope that another Wales player - Chris Gunter - will return from international duty unscathed after the right-back played against both Finland and Liechtenstein over the past week. On-loan midfielder Radoslaw Majewski reported back with a clean bill of health after representing Poland's Under-23 side. Forest will again be without defenders Julian Bennett and James Perch (shin), although the latter has resumed training. The game sees the return to the City Ground of former Forest boss Colin Calderwood, who is assisting Newcastle's caretaker manager Chris Hughton. Magpies news Newcastle boss Hughton has concerns over defensive duo Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini. Taylor is nursing a hamstring strain and Coloccini has been struggling with a groin problem but both players will be given time to shake off their respective injury problems. Hughton has been boosted after Marlon Harewood and Jose Enrique were passed fit to face Forest after recent knocks. Hughton knows the task at hand and told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: "Their early season form wasn't so good but they are in very good form now and will be looking forward to taking us on. "They have a lot of good options around the pitch and we expect a tough game."

Source: SKY_Sports