Newcastle v Swansea preview

Carroll: Touch and go

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Newcastle will be hoping to extend their lead at the top of the Championship when Swansea travel to St James' Park.

Both sides are in excellent form, with the fourth-placed Swans having not lost in 11 matches, and the game should be a test for the high-flying Magpies.

Toon boss Chris Hughton is facing an anxious wait to discover the fitness of Andy Carroll for Saturday's clash with the Welsh side.

Carroll returned to training on Thursday after taking to his sickbed in the wake of Monday night's 1-0 win at Preston, which saw the Magpies return to the top of the table.

Hughton will wait to see how much his illness has taken out of him before naming his team, while he is also hoping for good news on Ryan Taylor and Danny Simpson.

Taylor pulled out of the Preston game after feeling a twinge in his calf during the warm-up at Deepdale while Simpson limped off with a tight thigh muscle, although both are making good progress.

On-loan Defender Zurab Khizanishvili is available after completing a three-match ban but Shola Ameobi, who has not played since damaging his foot in the Carling Cup victory over Huddersfield in August, may have to wait a little longer despite having a week's training under his belt.

In-form Swansea have a fitness doubt over captain Garry Monk for the eagerly-anticipated clash.

The defender has missed the last two games with a calf injury and he is still struggling with the problem, so Federico Bessone will continue to deputise should Monk fail to make it.

The Swans will definitely be without Scottish striker Stephen Dobbie who has an ankle injury, while Mark Gower is also expected to miss out with a hamstring problem.

David Cotterill is set to play some part, most likely from the bench after joining on an emergency loan deal from Sheffield United this week. His move is set to be made permanent in January.

This will be the first league meeting between the two sides since March 1983.