Match to be played on Saturday 2nd November 2013 at 12:45. Venue: St. James’ Park, Newcastle.
French defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa is set for a league return from suspension when Newcastle take on Chelsea in the early Saturday kick-off.
Yanga-Mbiwa missed the Tyne-Wear derby defeat last weekend after his sending off against Liverpool but returned in the extra-time cup defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday night.
He’ll replace Paul Dummett who misses out due to a hamstring problem. Fellow defenders Steven Taylor and Fabricio Coloccini remain missing through injury.
Magpies boss Alan Pardew will name an otherwise unchanged side from the 2-1 defeat to their bitter rivals last Sunday for the visit of Jose Mourinho’s side.
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Mathieu Debuchy, the man who equalised against the Black Cats before Fabio Borini’s late winner will start at right-back with Davide Santon on the opposite side. Yanga-Mbiwa will partner Mike Williamson in the centre.
Yohan Cabaye was left on the bench against City but will take his place in a midfield three along with Cheik Tiote and Moussa Sissoko.
In attack, Loic Remy will be hoping for good service from Hatem Ben Arfa and Yoan Gouffran as Newcastle look for a second successive home win against the Blues, after coming from 2-1 behind to beat Rafael Benitez’s side 3-2 in February.
Predicted Newcastle team: Krul, Debuchy, Yanga-Mbiwa, Williamson, Santon, Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Gouffran, Remy
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