It’ll be a case of friends reunited at St James’ Park as bosses Alan Pardew and Sam Allardyce both come up against their former employer. Pardew has further fuelled the fire ahead of what is an already fiesty-looking fixture by admitting that he’d love to bring West Ham loanee Andy Carroll back to the North East when his spell in East London is up.
Carroll is one of two players sold by Pardew – the other being former Toon skipper Kevin Nolan – who could return to haunt the London-born Newcastle boss but the Magpies have undoubtedly improved vastly since both have left under the former Hammer's manager.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce admits he nearly quit the game when he was sacked by Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, but reckons football is a “drug” he needs in his life.
Both sides are struggling defensively, which could mean plenty of goals at St James' Park. West Ham wait on fitness tests for James Collins and James Tomkins, while Newcastle are without the suspended duo of Fabricio Coloccini and Cheik Tioté, Newcastle's two key defensive players.
Their absence gives a boost to the visitors' physical approach, which has not been particularly successful away from home; a 2-1 victory at QPR is their only away success to date.
And the fact Newcastle enter the match after a tough fixture on Thursday against Club Brugge, where they drew 2-2, only enhances the visitors' chances.
Also in the team news, Mike Williamson, who was withdrawn early from the 2-2 draw at the Jan Breydel Stadion, will start alongside Steven Taylor, who replaced him, in central defence, while Jonas Gutierrez, Hatem Ben Arfa and Demba Ba are likely to return. Full-back Danny Simpson remains a doubt with a shoulder problem.
If Tomkins and Collins are both deemed unfit to play for the Hammers, Winston Reid will be the only first-team centre-back available, however he could be joined by either of the two young reserve team defenders, Jordan Spence or Dan Potts. Matt Taylor may also be available after recovering from a calf injury. Fullback Guy Demel has returned to training following a hernia problem but Ricardo Vaz Te, Jack Collison and Alou Diarra remain sidelined.
Likely West Ham first 11: Jaaskelainen, O'Brien, Reid, Collins, McCartney, Diame, Noble, Benayoun, Nolan, Jarvis, Carroll.
My Prediction: The return to St. James' Park will more than likely be a boost on the pitch for Carroll and Nolan (and the fact that Carroll still hasn't scored in claret and blue yet), as well as off the pitch for Big Sam. The recent good form of wingers Yossi Benayoun and Matt Jarvis will also prove vital for the West Ham attack, but if Collins and Tomkins do not pull through their tests, there could be some major defensive problems at the back for the Hammers. However, a depleted Newcastle side could struggle against a much more physical and powerful West Ham midfield.
Newcastle 1 West Ham 1
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