Should Jamie Vardy pass a late fitness test and start for Leicester many Newcastle fans will probably feel like watching the striker’s expected duel with Fabricio Coloccini through their fingers. Small wonder Tynesiders are keeping everything crossed that Vardy’s extraordinary scoring streak is halted – temporarily at least – by the hip injury that leaves him touch and go for Saturday. With Leicester supreme on the counterattack, Claudio Ranieri aims to continue confounding the doubters but Steve McClaren is confident his Newcastle side are “turning a corner”. Louise Taylor
Kick-off Saturday 3pm
Venue St James’ Park
Last season Newcastle 1 Leicester 0
Referee M Jones
This season G12, Y48, R1, 4.1 cards per game
Odds H 9-5 A 9-5 D 12-5
Newcastle United
Subs from Woodman, Darlow, Lascelles, Mbabau, De Jong, Cissé, Gouffran, Thauvin
Doubtful Darlow (ankle)
Injured Colback (knee, 13 Dec), Aarons (foot, Jan), Taylor (hamstring, Jan), Obertan (hamstring, Mar), Krul (knee, Aug), Haïdara (groin, unknown), Rivière (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Form WDLWLD
Discipline Y23 R3
Leading scorer Wijnaldum 6
Leicester City
Subs from Schwarzer, Moore, De Laet, Chilwell, Benalouane, Wasilewski, King, Inler, Dyer, Ulloa, Kramaric, Okazaki, Dodoo
Doubtful Kramaric, Morgan, Okazaki (match fitness)
Injured James (knee, Feb)
Suspended None
Form WWWDWL
Discipline Y23 R0
Leading scorer Vardy 12
