The Canaries host the Magpies at Carrow Road.

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Preview

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.

Venue Carrow Road, Saturday 3pm

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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

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

SOURCE: Guardian

STAT-ATTACK

Head-to-head

Newcastle won the reverse fixture 1-0 at St James’ Park last September. The now-departed Demba Ba scored the game’s only goal and Papiss Cisse missed a penalty.

Eight of the last nine meetings between the two clubs in all competitions have ended as home wins, including the last four Premier League encounters.

Newcastle’s sole Premier League win at Carrow Road came in January 2004; Peter Beardsley’s 200th career goal and a late Andy Cole strike secured a 2-1 comeback win.

Norwich

The Canaries lost all four league matches over the festive period.

All five of Norwich’s home wins have been by the odd goal.

They have scored the highest percentage of goals from headers of any team in the top flight (38%).
Chris Hughton’s side have conceded a joint-high seven goals from outside the box in the Premier League this season.

Newcastle

Newcastle have played 16 away games in all competitions this season and have not won any of them; 38 goals have been conceded in those games.

No Premier League side have conceded more headed goals than Alan Pardew’s men (11) this season.

The Magpies (17%) have played a higher proportion of long passes (35 yards or more) than any other Premier League team this season.

Twenty points from 21 matches is Newcastle’s lowest ever points haul in the Premier League era.

SOURCE: BBC Sport

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