Jonás Gutiérrez is expected to be back on Newcastle’s bench after recovering from testicular cancer with John Carver hoping his comeback lifts the mood in the wake of last weekend’s 5-0 thrashing at Manchester City. If Carver could do with a reassuring victory, Tim Sherwood will sense an opportunity to secure the first win of his Villa tenure. It should be intriguing to assess precisely how much more direct the new manager is making Paul Lambert’s old team. With both sides extremely swift on the break, this promises to be all about counter-attacking. Louise Taylor
Kick-off Saturday 3pm
Venue St James’ Park
Last season Newcastle 1 Aston Villa 0
Referee L Mason
This season G16, Y48, R4, 3.25 cards per game
Odds H 10-11 A 3-1 D 5-2
Newcastle Utd
Subs from Alnwick, Woodman, Good, Obertan, R Taylor, Gouffran, Rivière, Armstrong, Ferreyra, Aarons, Gutiérrez
Doubtful None
Injured Cabella (knee, 7 Mar), S Taylor (achilles, Aug), Tioté (knee, Aug), De Jong (lung, unknown), Dummett (knee, unknown), Elliot (hip, unknown)
Suspended Colback (one match)
Form LLWDDL
Discipline Y54 R3
Leading scorer Cissé 10
Aston Villa
Subs from Given, Steer, Baker, Bacuna, Cleverley, Westwood, Grealish, Cole, Weimann, Lowton, N’Zogbia
Doubtful Cissokho (knock), Hutton (knock)
Injured Richardson (calf, 14 Mar), Herd (knee, unknown), Kozak (broken leg, unknown), Senderos (calf, unknown)
Suspended Vlaar (one match)
Form LLLLLL
Discipline Y54 R6
Leading scorers Agbonlahor, Weimann 3
