Eleven months ago Rémi Garde seemed close to succeeding Alan Pardew at Newcastle but talks foundered and he now finds himself in charge of another club with a dubious recruitment policy – bottom-placed Aston Villa. Despite successive, morale-boosting wins against Liverpool and Spurs, Steve McClaren’s side remain vulnerable and will surely need to modify their recent counterattacking strategy against Garde’s side. Villa, though, have now gone 15 League games without victory. A few more stumbles and the Championship will be within touching distance. Louise Taylor
Kick-off Saturday 5.30pm
Venue St James’ Park
Last season Newcastle 1 Aston Villa 0
Live Sky Sports 1
Referee M Atkinson
This season G15, Y55, R0, 3.66 cards per game
Odds H 21-20 A 16-5 D 13-5
Newcastle United
Subs from Darlow, Mbabu, Sterry, Tioté, Cissé, De Jong, Thauvin, Aarons, Gouffran
Doubtful Aarons (ankle), Tioté (groin)
Injured Lascelles, Williamson (both hamstring, 26 Dec), Taylor (hamstring, 2 Jan), Haïdara (knee, Apr), Obertan (hamstring, Apr), Krul (knee, Aug), Rivière (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Form DWLLWW
Discipline Y33 R3
Leading scorer Wijnaldum 7
Aston Villa
Subs from Bunn, Gil, Ilori, Westwood, Clark, Richardson, Crespo, N’Zogbia, Traoré, Kozak, Agbonlahor, Grealish, Richards
Doubtful Richards (knee)
Injured Amavi (knee, unknown), Gardner (ankle, unknown)
Suspended None
Form LDLLDL
Discipline Y27 R0
Leading scorers Ayew, Gestede 3
