Newcastle embark on life without Andy Carroll when they face Fulham at Craven Cottage, live on Sky Sports HD 2&2.
Ireland not ready for Magpies; duo could make Fulham debuts
Newcastle embark on life without Andy Carroll when they face Fulham at Craven Cottage, live on
Sky Sports HD 2&2.
The Magpies sold Carroll to Liverpool in a £35million deal on transfer deadline day to leave the club without their talisman for the rest of the season.
In Carroll's absence Leon Best is set to partner Shola Ameobi in attack as they look to form a new partnership on Tyneside.
New loan signing Stephen Ireland will have to wait to make his debut after arriving from Aston Villa with a hamstring problem.
Midfielder Cheik Tiote is still out as he serves the final match of his three-game suspension.
Captain Kevin Nolan and fellow midfielder Danny Guthrie will both be available to play after shaking off knocks.
Ryan Taylor (ankle), has returned to training, but Steven Taylor (hamstring), Dan Gosling (knee), Alan Smith (ankle) and Hatem Ben Arfa (broken leg) remain on the sidelines
Fulham could hand debuts to loan signings Gael Kakuta and Eidur Gudjohnsen following their arrivals at the club.
However, both are likely to start on the bench as Mark Hughes is expected to stick with the side that thumped Spurs 4-0 in the FA Cup last weekend.
David Stockdale is likely to continue in goal as Mark Schwarzer is tired after his exploits with Australia in the Asian Cup and Dickson Etuhu is a doubt with a hamstring injury.
Possible starting XIs
Fulham Stockdale, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Salcido, Dempsey, Murphy, Sidwell, Duff, A Johnson, Dembele.
Newcastle: Harper, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Enrique, Barton, Nolan, Guthrie, Gutierrez, Best, Ameobi.
