The Potters make the trip to the North East tomorrow to face Newcastle at St. James Park. The last time Stoke made the 300 kilometrejourney was back in January of this year in an FA Cup Replay, Liam Lawrence scoring a late consolation for Stoke in a 4-1 lo s on that night. Stoke will be hoping for a far better result this time though, travelling to Newcastle as far le s of underdogs, and three points and three places ahead ofthe Magpiesin the Premier League table. Any sort of result would be welcome for Stoke though, as despite maintaining a reasonable league position, form has been poor of late, summed up by Tuesday nights 1-0 home lo s to Derby on Tuesdaynight. Newcastle will also be very keen to take the spoils from the game. Despite former interim manager Joe Kinnear doing enough to earn himself a stay until the end of the season,the clubare only above of the relegation zone on goal difference ahead of their arch rivals, the now managerle s Sunderland. Former Newcastle defender Abdoulaye Faye will, as ever, play a key part in the Stoke defence, while centre-back Ryan Shawcro s and striker Dave Kitson look set to mi s the game with back and knee injuries respectively. Newcastle forward Shola Ameobi, who spent an unsucce sful six weeks on loanin the Potteriesat the end of last season his ruled out with a foot and ankle injury. This wont be a huge concern to Newcastles expletive loving bo s though, as he still has the dangerous looking forward trio of Michael Owen, Obafemi Martins, who may or may not have celebrated his fiftieth birthday yesterday, and the returning pair of Mark Viduka and Xisco to choose from. Owen and Viduka are just two of a number of talented attacking players at Newcastles disposal Newcastle play a fast paced, yet sometimes laboured game, their side at times lacking in quality. Tomorrows match could well end as a goalle sstalemate, in my opinion, if one of the few players with a little something special cannot prove to be the difference to their side.Jonas Gutierrez, who was impre sive in early season but has gone off recently, and Owen spring to mind for Newcastle, while Ricardo Fuller, who will be looking to bounce back after a dire performance against Derby will be the main threat for Stoke. A draw would be a decent result for Stoke, as almost any away point is in the Premier League, but I feel that soon we are liable to getting our first away win, perhaps just nicking it 1-0, and tomorrows trip to Newcastle seems as good an opportunity as any to go for it.Key head-to-heads:Obafemi Martins v Abdoulaye FayeThe two old team-mates are likely to face up against each other tomorrow in what will be a battle of strength and pace, attributes both players po se s in abundance. Faye struggled with the strength of Marlon King for Hull last Saturday and particularly while carrying a knock, will have his work cut out to contain Martins. Jonas Gutierrez v Danny HigginbothamOn his day, Gutierrez can be a handfull for any full back. On other days he does nothing. Lets hope for Dannys sake that tomorrow is an example of the latter. Fabricio Colocinni v Ricardo FullerFuller will provide Stokes main attacking threat and will hope to find easy pickings from Gutierrezs Argentine compatriot Colocinni. The centre-back will have to concentrate not to let Fuller have a sniff of goal, particularly in the air from Rory Delaps long throws from which Fuller has scored three times this season. Newcastle Squad:Goalkeepers:Shay Given (32), Steve Harper (33), Fraser Forster (20), Ole Soderburg (18)Defenders:Fabricio Colocinni (26), Habib Beye (31), Steven Taylor (22), Sebastien Ba song (22), Claudio Cacapa (32), Jose Enrique (22), Tamas Kadar (18), Ben Tozer (18), Callu Morris (18), Darren Lough (19)Midfielders
amien Duff (29), Charles NZogbia (22), Jonas Gutierrez (25), Ignacio Gonzalez (26), Geremi (29), Nicky Butt (33), Danny Guthrie (21), David Edgar (21), Mark Doninger (19), James Marwood (18)N.B. I will not pollute my site with the name of a certain Newcastle midfield player.Forwards:Michael Owen (28), Obafemi Martins (anywhere between 24 and 54), Mark Viduka (33), Alan Smith (28), Xisco (22), Shola Ameobi (27), Fabio Zamblera (18), Frank Danquah (19), Wesley Baheng (19), Kazenga Lua Lua (17), Andy Carroll (19), Ryan Donaldson (17), Jonny Godsmark (19), Nile Ranger (17)Star man: Michael OwenLittle needs be said about current top scorer Owen, since bursting onto the scene as a teenager at Liverpool he has been a regular for England and an equally regular goalscorer. Hes currently looking to get back on track at Newcastle after suffering several bad injuries in the last few years.Comparative club stats: Dan Vogelbach Jersey Newcastle StokeLeague Position:1417Games Played: 17 19Home Record: (W,D,L) 3,2,3 6,2,3Away Record: (W,D,L)1,4,4 1,2,5Goals Scored:21 22Goals Conceded: 26 30Disciplinary: (Y,R) 21,2 31,1Form: (most recent first) D,D,D,L,W,WL,D,W,L,W,DTop Scorers: Owen (6), Martins (5)Fuller (6), Sidibe (3)Last five meetings:Newcastle 4-1 Stoke 16/01/2008Stoke 0-0 Newcastle 06/01/2008Newcastle 3-0 Stoke 16/04/1990Stoke 2-1 Newcastle 26/12/1989Stoke 0-1 Newcastle 04/05/1985An aerial view of St. James Park
amien Duff (29), Charles NZogbia (22), Jonas Gutierrez (25), Ignacio Gonzalez (26), Geremi (29), Nicky Butt (33), Danny Guthrie (21), David Edgar (21), Mark Doninger (19), James Marwood (18)N.B. I will not pollute my site with the name of a certain Newcastle midfield player.Forwards:Michael Owen (28), Obafemi Martins (anywhere between 24 and 54), Mark Viduka (33), Alan Smith (28), Xisco (22), Shola Ameobi (27), Fabio Zamblera (18), Frank Danquah (19), Wesley Baheng (19), Kazenga Lua Lua (17), Andy Carroll (19), Ryan Donaldson (17), Jonny Godsmark (19), Nile Ranger (17)Star man: Michael OwenLittle needs be said about current top scorer Owen, since bursting onto the scene as a teenager at Liverpool he has been a regular for England and an equally regular goalscorer. Hes currently looking to get back on track at Newcastle after suffering several bad injuries in the last few years.Comparative club stats: Dan Vogelbach Jersey Newcastle StokeLeague Position:1417Games Played: 17 19Home Record: (W,D,L) 3,2,3 6,2,3Away Record: (W,D,L)1,4,4 1,2,5Goals Scored:21 22Goals Conceded: 26 30Disciplinary: (Y,R) 21,2 31,1Form: (most recent first) D,D,D,L,W,WL,D,W,L,W,DTop Scorers: Owen (6), Martins (5)Fuller (6), Sidibe (3)Last five meetings:Newcastle 4-1 Stoke 16/01/2008Stoke 0-0 Newcastle 06/01/2008Newcastle 3-0 Stoke 16/04/1990Stoke 2-1 Newcastle 26/12/1989Stoke 0-1 Newcastle 04/05/1985An aerial view of St. James Park