Newcastle v Norwich team news and stats

Steve McClaren: Battling to keep Newcastle in the Premier League

Steve McClaren: Battling to keep Newcastle in the Premier League

Newcastle hope to avoid making their worst start to a season since 1898 when they tackle Norwich at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon.

Team news

Newcastle head coach Steve McClaren has received a fitness boost ahead of Sunday’s Barclays Premier League clash with Norwich despite losing goalkeeper Tim Krul for the rest of the season.

Defenders Daryl Janmaat and Massadio Haidara (both knee) and Paul Dummett (hamstring), as well as midfielder Jack Colback (hamstring), have returned to training and are in contention as the Magpies attempt to secure their first league win of the season at the ninth attempt.

However, keepers Krul (cruciate ligament) and Karl Darlow (ankle), defenders Steven Taylor and Kevin Mbabu (both hamstring), midfielders Rolando Aarons (calf) and Gabriel Obertan (hamstring) and striker Emmanuel Riviere (knee) remain on the sidelines.

Norwich expect to have playmaker Wes Hoolahan available after shrugging off a heel problem while on international duty with the Republic of Ireland.

Striker Gary Hooper has stepped up his rehabilitation from an ankle injury, but is unlikely to feature this weekend.

Midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu has also returned to training this week following recovery from a fractured metatarsal, but will not be rushed into action.

Kick-off on Sunday is at 4pm.

 

Opta Stats

  • The Magpies are unbeaten in five Premier League meetings with Norwich (W3 D2), keeping four clean sheets in the process.
  • Norwich have never won at St James Park in the Premier League (D1 L5); only at Old Trafford have they played more often without winning (D1 L6).
  • David Silva (6) is the only player with more Premier League assists this season than Wes Hoolahan (5).
  • Newcastle have not scored or conceded a goal to an English player in the league this term.
  • Steve McClaren is now without a win in 12 Premier League games (D5 L7), including spells at Middlesbrough and Newcastle.
  • Newcastle United have won just one of their last 19 Premier League games (D4 L14).
  • The Magpies have lost a league-high seven points from winning positions this season.
  • Newcastle have failed to win any of their first eight league games for only the second time in their history (10 in 1898/99).
  • Newcastle United have won just one of their last 19 Premier League games (D4 L14).
  • The Magpies have lost a league-high seven points from winning positions this season.
  • Newcastle have failed to win any of their first eight league games for only the second time in their history (10 in 1898/99).
  • Norwich are one of only three Premier League sides yet to keep a clean sheet this season (Leicester and Sunderland).Newcastle have had fewer shots (excluding blocked) than any other Premier League team this season (50, 35 fewer than Norwich).