NEWCASTLE UNITED Krul Simpson, Perch, Coloccini, Santon Obertan, Cabaye, R Taylor, Gutierrez Ba, Ameobi

SWANSEA CITY Vorm Richards, Williams, Caulker, Taylor Britton, Gower, Allen Sinclair, Dyer, Graham

Newcastle have been decimated by injuries over the past few weeks and will be missing key players Steven Taylor, who’s out for the season, and Cheikh Tiote who this game may just be too soon for to make his comeback. Skipper Fabricio Coloccini should be back this weekend to boost the Magpies defensive options and could be joined by Mike Williamson, who is fit again, although talk of a first team appearance could be premature. Dan Gosling is suspended following his dismissal at Norwich last week so the versatile Ryan Taylor could move from defence to midfield. Danny Simpson will move back to his regular right-back slot after filling in at centre-back last week.

Swansea will be boosted by the return of Joe Allen after he missed last week’s 2-0 victory over Fulham as he was suspended. The shape of the team should change as well with Luke Moore and Leroy Lita dropping to the bench as Rodgers could switch to a 4-3-3 system for the trip to the Sports Direct Arena. Danny Graham should come back into the team following his scoring return from injury last week, and will be flanked by Nathan Dyer and Scott Sinclair. While the back four should stay the same after shutting out Fulham at the Liberty Stadium.

• Newcastle have lost just once this season at home – in their last game at the Sports Direct Arena against Chelsea.

• Demba Ba (pictured right) has netted 11 times this season. The Senegalese striker is joint second in the goalscoring charts in the Premier League, with only Robin van Persie having scored more.

• The Magpies have gone four games without a win – their longest spell without a victory this season.

• After a solid start to the campaign defensively, Alan Pardew’s side have failed to keep a clean sheet in their past six games.

• Swansea have the worst away record in the Premier League and are yet to win a game away from the Liberty Stadium. Just two of their 17 points have come on their travels.

• The Swans have kept the most clean sheets in the division with seven so far this season.

• Brendan Rodgers’ side have conceded the second most amount of goals away from home with 18. Only Blackburn (19) have shipped more.

• Swansea have lost on their last three trips to Tyneside. Their last victory at Newcastle came in 1980 with a 2-1 result.