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Norwich v Newcastle: Coloccini Misses Out
Written by Newcastle Utd
Magpies skipper Fabricio Coloccini loses race against time to be fit for Carrow Road clash as Alan Pardew makes a total of five changes
By Dan King - Newcastle United Club Reporter
Fabricio Coloccini has lost his race to be fit for Newcastle's game at Norwich City, meaning an untried central defensive partnership of James Perch and Danny Simpson start at Carrow Road, with a first league start for Davide Santon.
The Argentine defender limped off against Chelsea and was rated as having an outside chance of playing, but has not fully recovered from his thigh injury to face the Canaries while Steven Taylor is out for the season.
In a reshuffled defence, Ryan Taylor moves from left-back to the right-hand side, with Italian international Santon coming in.
In midfield, there are also changes as Dan Gosling makes his first Barclays Premier League start in place of the injured Danny Guthrie and Jonas Gutierrez returns on the left wing in place of Peter Lovenkrands. Gutierrez captains the side, with Gabriel Obertan on the right.
Shola Ameobi, a half-time substitute last weekend, comes in for Hatem Ben Arfa alongside Demba Ba. That means there are a total of five changes from the previous line-up.
Ben Arfa drops to the bench alongside Lovenkrands, Sammy Ameobi, Leon Best, Alan Smith, Shane Ferguson and goalkeeper Rob Elliot.
Newcastle United (4-4-2): Tim Krul; Ryan Taylor, James Perch, Danny Simpson, Davide Santon; Gabriel Obertan, Dan Gosling, Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez (c); Shola Ameobi, Demba Ba
Substitutes: Rob Elliot, Shane Ferguson, Alan Smith, Sammy Ameobi, Hatem Ben Arfa, Peter Lovenkrands, Leon Best