Appearances can be deceptive. Newcastle United might look safe in mid-table, with fans even having begun to chant Steve Bruce’s name but they are only five points above the relegation zone, on a poor run and their sole fit striker is the less than prolific £40m Brazilian Joelinton. With Chelsea anxious about qualifying for next season’s Champions League it could be a surprisingly tense evening on Tyneside where the drama seems set to be enriched appreciably by the expected return of Newcastle’s Allan Saint-Maximin following injury. Louise Taylor
Saturday 5.30pm Sky Sports Premier League
Venue St James’ Park
Last season Newcastle 1 Chelsea 2
Referee Chris Kavanagh
This season G15 Y49 R0 3.27 cards/game
Odds H 5-1 A 1-2 D 7-2
NEWCASTLE
Subs from Darlow, Clark, Shelvey, Carroll, M Longstaff, Atsu, Allan, Watts
Doubtful Carroll (hip), Saint-Maximin (hamstring)
Injured Gayle (hamstring), Willems (groin, both Feb), Dummett (hamstring), Ki (knock), Manquillo (hamstring), Muto (hip), Schär (thigh), Yedlin (knee, all unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y34 R2
Form LWLLLD
Leading scorer Shelvey 5
CHELSEA
Subs from Caballero, Tomori, Emerson, Zouma, Alonso, Kovacic, Kanté, Gilmour, Pedro, Batshuayi, Giroud
Doubtful Alonso (thigh), Kanté (hamstring)
Injured Pulisic (thigh, 1 Feb), Loftus-Cheek (achilles, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y40 R0
Form LWLWDW
Leading scorer Abraham 13
