North-East Sport
Ba and Perch start for Magpies
12:57pm Sunday 5th February 2012
DEMBA BA goes straight into Newcastle’s starting line-up for this afternoon’s game with Aston Villa at St James’ Park, while new signing Papiss Cisse starts on the bench.
DEMBA BA goes straight into Newcastle’s starting line-up for this afternoon’s game with Aston Villa at St James’ Park, while new signing Papiss Cisse starts on the bench.
The pair returned to Tyneside on Thursday after Senegal’s early exit from the African Cup of Nations, and Ba goes straight back in to partner Leon Best up front.
Cisse – a £9m signing from German club Freiburg in January – will have to wait for his chance, but Magpies boss Alan Pardew is likely to bring the striker on.
James Perch also starts in a central midfield partnership with Danny Guthrie with Ryan Taylor and Jonas Gutierrez on the wings.
Newcastle (4-4-2): Krul; Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon; R Taylor, Guthrie, Perch, Gutierrez; Ba, Best.
Subs: Elliot, Ferguson, Gosling, Obertan, Ben Arfa, Shola Ameobi, Cisse.
Aston Villa: Given; Hutton, Dunne, Cuellar, Warnock; Clark, Ireland, Petrov, N’Zogbia; Bent, Keane.
Subs: Guzan, Bannan, Weimann, Lichaj, Baker, Gardner, Heskey.