Scunthorpe v Newcastle preview

20 October 2009 09:47
Chris Hughton will hope to celebrate being offered the Newcastle United job on a permanent basis by securing a first win in four games at Scunthorpe United. Hughton, who has performed a fine task as caretaker manager, is set to finalise a deal over the next week to remain in charge and will look to justify the decision of owner Mike Ashley by securing three points at Glanford Park. Scunthorpe will be keen to play the role of party-poopers, though, after putting a dent in the promotion ambitions of Sheffield United at the weekend. Iron boss Nigel Adkins has received a double injury boost ahead of the game with Grant McCann and Josh Wright both passed fit. Both players picked up knocks in the 3-1 win over the Blades on Saturday, but trained on Monday and are fit to face the Magpies. Striker Ben May is on crutches and will be out until December with an ankle injury while Kenny Milne is still on the long road to recovery from a long-term knee problem. Michael O'Connor is also out for Scunthorpe as he serves a one-match suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the season at the weekend. Newcastle head to Glanford Park without defensive duo Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini, who have yet to recover from injuries. Taylor (hamstring) and Coloccini (groin) both missed Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest and Hughton is not counting on having them available against Scunthorpe. However, while Taylor will also struggle to make Saturday's home clash with Doncaster, Argentina international Coloccini is expected to be fit after almost a month on the sidelines. Elsewhere, Hughton has only long-term injury victims Shola Ameobi and Joey Barton missing, both with long-term foot problems as the Magpies attempt to bounce back from a run of three games which has seen them take just two points and slip from the top of the table as a result.

Source: SKY_Sports