CHELSEA vs NEWCASTLE Matchfile

4:28pm Friday 21st November 2008

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LIKELY LINE-UPS

CHELSEA (4-3-3): Cech, Bosingwa, Terry, Ivanovic, Bridge, Ballack, Mikel, Deco, J Cole, Anelka, Malouda.

NEWCASTLE (4-4-2): Given, Beye, Coloccini, Bassong, N'Zogbia, Gutierrez, Butt, Guthrie, Duff, Ameobi, Owen.

Newcastle subs (from): Harper, Edgar, Cacapa, Enrique, Geremi, Martins, Carroll, Donaldson.

Chelsea subs (from): Cudicini, Alex, Belletti, Ferreira, Kalou, Stoch, Mineiro.

NEWCASTLE: Michael Owen is expected to make his first start for almost two months when Newcastle travel to Chelsea this afternoon. The England international has started the last three matches on the substitutes' bench, but should return to the starting line-up today. Obafemi Martins is likely to make way, although interim manager Joe Kinnear could switch to a 4-3-3 formation to accommodate all three of his leading strikers. Joey Barton is sidelined with a knee injury, and Charles N'Zogbia is ready to replace Jose Enrique after the Spanish left-back struggled against Wigan last weekend.

Suspensions: None

Injuries: Taylor (stomach), Barton (knee), Xisco (groin), Gonzalez (Achilles), Smith (Achilles), Viduka (Achilles)

Last five league games: DLWWL

Leading league scorer: Martins 5

Next game: vs Middlesbrough (A) 29/11/08

CHELSEA: Frank Lampard is Chelsea's major injury doubt ahead of this afternoon's game. The midfielder withdrew from the England squad for Wednesday's friendly win over Germany with a rib injury, and is struggling to be fit enough to take on Newcastle. Striker Didier Drogba starts a three-match suspension imposed after he threw a coin into the crowd during this month's Carling Cup defeat to Burnley, but Joe Cole and Petr Cech are fit to return after injury. Ashley Cole (foot), Alex (thigh), and Juliano Belletti (ankle) are all doubtful, while Michael Essien and Franco Di Santo are definitely out. Centre-half Ricardo Carvalho is expected to be unavailable because of a knee problem.

Suspensions: Drogba

Injuries: Cole (foot), Alex (thigh), Belletti (ankle), Carvalho (knee), Essien (knee), Lampard (rib), Di Santo (hamstring).

Last five league games: WWWWL

Leading league scorer: Anelka 12

Key Player: Nicolas Anelka - The France international is the Premier League's leading scorer this season.

Last season: 2-1

League head to head: Chelsea 51, Newcastle 44, Draws 33

Referee: Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent) G16 Y50 R3 Ave: 3.31

Last Newcastle game: vs West Ham (A) 20/09/08 L1-3 Y3 R0

Odds: H2/9; D5/1; A12/1

It's a fact: It is 22 years to the day since Newcastle last won at Stamford Bridge. Andy Thomas (2) and Peter Beardsley scored the goals in a 3-1 win.

Comment by SCOTT WILSON: Newcastle have a dreadful record at Chelsea - and it's hard to imagine it improving today.

Prediction: 3-0

** READ MORE NEWCASTLE NEWS IN TOMORROW'S NORTHERN ECHO **