Norwich City v Newcastle United: Squad sheets - The Guardian

Newcastle head into their first league match since the departure of top-scorer Demba Ba thankful that Papiss Cissé is fit to start after a thigh complaint. The Senegal striker needs to recapture the prolific form he showed after arriving in January last year, when he hit 13 goals in his first 14 appearances, if Alan Pardew's side are to arrest an alarming slide down the table. Norwich will hope that their own talisman, Grant Holt, is able to feature after hamstring trouble, although he too has been less prolific this season than he was in 2011-12. Rich Flower

Venue Carrow Road, Saturday 3pm

Tickets £23-55 (0844 826 1902)

Last season Norwich 4 Newcastle 2

Referee Anthony Taylor

This season's matches 13 Y24, R5, 2.23 cards per game

Odds Norwich 6-5 Newcastle 5-2 Draw 5-2

Norwich City v Newcastle United: Probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Illustration: Graphic

Norwich

Subs from Steer, Howson, Jackson, Fox, E Bennett, Barnett, Butterfield, Tierney, R Bennett, Francomb, Kane, C Martin

Doubtful Holt (hamstring), Howson (illness)

Injured Whittaker (hip, 19 Jan), Surman (knee, 19 Jan), Morison (thigh, 29 Jan), Ruddy (thigh, Feb)

Suspended None

Form guide LLLLWW

Disciplinary record Y21 R0

Leading scorers Holt, Pilkington, Snodgrass 4

Newcastle

Subs from Elliot, Harper, Cabaye, Ranger, Amalfitano, Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi, Ferguson, Tavernier, Abeid, Dummett

Doubtful Cabaye (groin), Perch (knee)

Injured Simpson (toe, 19 Jan), S Taylor (hamstring, 19 Jan), Ben Arfa (hamstring, Feb), R Taylor (knee, May), Vuckic (knee, May), Gosling (knee, unknown)

Suspended Shola Ameobi (one match)

Unavailable Tioté (international duty)

Form guide LLLWLL

Disciplinary record Y42 R2

Leading scorer Cissé 4

Match pointers

• Eight of the past nine league and cup games between these sides have ended with a win for the hosts on the day

• Newcastle have their lowest points total after 21 matches of a Premier League season, three fewer than when they were relegated in 2008-09

• Grant Holt has committed 35 fouls but has been booked only once, the highest ratio in the division

• Newcastle have conceded more headed goals (11) than any other team in the top flight

• Norwich have conceded the most goals from outside the box (seven) in the division