Newcastle v Wigan: Marveaux Starts

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Sylvain Marveaux has been handed a starting spot as Newcastle United entertain Wigan Athletic in the Barclays Premier League on Monday night.

The Frenchman is included in place of the suspended James Perch and is the only change from the Magpies' side which was narrowly - and undeservedly - defeated at Stoke last Wednesday.

Marveaux made his one and only Premier League start this season away at Everton in September, and has only featured from the bench four times in the top flight this term.

United are expected to line-up with an attack-minded 4-2-3-1 formation against the Latics.

Goalkeeper Tim Krul will be protected by a defence of Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, captain Fabricio Coloccini and Davide Santon.

Cheick Tiote and Vurnon Anita will form a central midfield partnership, with Papiss Cisse, Marveaux and Jonas Gutierrez just ahead of them providing the creativity to feed eight-goal top scorer Demba Ba, who will lead the line on his own.

On the substitutes' bench there is a welcome return for front man Shola Ameobi, who has been ruled out in recent weeks through a hamstring injury.

And he is joined by youngsters James Tavernier, Shane Ferguson, Gael Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi and Nile Ranger.

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Tim Krul; Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Davide Santon; Vurnon Anita, Cheick Tiote; Papiss Cisse, Sylvain Marveaux, Jonas Gutierrez; Demba Ba

Substitutes: Steve Harper, James Tavernier, Shane Ferguson, Gael Bigirimana, Sammy Ameobi, Nile Ranger, Shola Ameobi

Wigan (3-4-3): Ali Al Habsi; Emmerson Boyce, Gary Caldwell (c), Maynor Figueroa; Ronnie Stam, James McCarthy, David Jones, Jean Beausejour; Arouna Kone, Franco Di Santo, Jordi Gomez 

Substitutes: Mike Pollitt, Roman Golobart, Adrian Lopez, James McArthur, Fraser Fyvie, Callum McManaman, Mauro Boselli

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)