Aston Villa V Newcastle Barclays Premier League Match 14 -September 2013. Aston Villa's new Czech striker Libor Kozak could make his debut.
Defenders Nathan Baker and Antonio Luna may also feature after recent knocks, but Charles N'Zogbia remains a long-term absentee with an Achilles injury.
Newcastle's Yohan Cabaye could return to the starting line-up after his proposed transfer window move to Arsenal failed to materialise.Watch Aston Villa V Newcastle Live, Watch Aston Villa V Newcastle Live Stream, Watch Aston Villa V Newcastle Free Live Stream, Watch Aston Villa V Newcastle Online, Watch Aston Villa V Newcastle Online Free, Aston Villa V Newcastle Live, Aston Villa V Newcastle live stream Online.
Loan signing Loic Remy could make his first start, while Steven Taylor and Cheick Tiote are available again.
MATCH PREVIEW
Ask any neutral which of these sides has made the better start to the new season, and I reckon the majority would suggest Aston Villa - but the Premier League table reveals a different story. Newcastle are a point better off with four compared to Villa's three. So why does the picture look rosy in Birmingham while it's all fog on the Tyne?
Part of the answer is to do with the respective opposition these clubs have faced and the quality of the performances. Villa have faced three from the top four, narrowly losing to Chelsea and Liverpool after their terrific 3-1 win away to Arsenal on the opening day.
Meanwhile, Newcastle lost their opener heavily 4-0 at Manchester City, then slugged out a forgettable goalless draw at St James' Park against West Ham. Only a Hatem Ben Arfa wonder strike prevented the same outcome last time out against Fulham.
Want-away midfielder Yohan Cabaye came on as a substitute in that game for his first appearance of the campaign. The Frenchman got the winner when these sides met at Villa Park last January, and getting him focussed and committed to the cause again will be crucial if Alan Pardew is to steer Newcastle away from dangerous waters. Unhappy with a lack of new arrivals, the Toon Army are restless again.
In contrast, Paul Lambert was able to ride the storm threatening to swamp him last winter thanks to the understanding of the Villa faithful. They accepted his blueprint for the future, a faith in youth underlined during the recent transfer window when all seven of his signings were aged 24 or under. Last man in on deadline day itself was Libor Kozak from Lazio.
He scored against Italy for the Czech Republic on Tuesday night and should make his Premier League bow in this one. At £7m he represents Lambert's costliest new recruit, but if he can emulate the success of the manager's last £7m acquisition nobody will be complaining.
Christian Benteke goes from strength to strength - 23 goals last season, four already this. Keeping him in claret and blue is arguably the best bit of business any club managed over the summer.
After a run of four Premier League wins at Villa Park against Newcastle, Aston Villa have failed to beat the Magpies on home soil in their past two league encounters.
Last season Newcastle won 2-1 at Villa Park, with goals from Papiss Cisse and Yohan Cabaye.
The biggest Premier League win in matches between the two clubs came when Newcastle walloped Villa 6-0 at St James' Park in August 2010.
Aston Villa
Villa have scored four goals from 11 shots on target so far this season (while Newcastle have scored just once from 10 shots on target).
But Villa have conceded a goal in each of their last 12 Premier League matches at Villa Park.
The Villains have scored four goals after three Premier League games this season. At the same stage last term they had just two.
Newcastle
All four of Newcastle's last four league wins have been by a single-goal margin.
Three of Hatem Ben Arfa's last four Premier League goals have come from outside the box in open play - the other was a penalty.
In Newcastle's last match (against Fulham), Loic Remy collected his first ever Premier League assist.
In that match, the Magpies had 25 shots - the joint-most of any team in a single game this term.