Archive
Newcastle v Norwich: Coloccini Starts
Written by Newcastle Utd
Fabricio Coloccini is back in the Newcastle starting line-up for Saturday's home game against Norwich
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
At St. James' Park
Captain Fabricio Coloccini returns to the Newcastle United starting line-up for Saturday's Barclays Premier League home game against Norwich (3pm kick-off).
The centre-back's inclusion is the only change to the Magpies' team from their victory at Tottenham a fortnight ago. And it is an enforced one, with Coloccini replacing Mathieu Debuchy, who serves a one-game ban for accumulating five bookings.
Coloccini last featured against Cardiff at the start of October before being sidelined by a groin injury, but he was an unused substitute at White Hart Lane last time out.
It means a slight reshuffle to a United defence which has kept back-to-back clean sheets in wins over Chelsea and Spurs.
Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa will move out to right-back, with Coloccini coming into the middle to partner Mike Williamson. Italian international Davide Santon will play on the left-hand side.
In midfield, Moussa Sissoko and Yoan Gouffran are deployed on either flank, with Cheick Tiote and Yohan Cabaye patrolling the middle of the park.
And Shola Ameobi continues his promising partnership with seven-goal front man Loic Remy up top.
On the substitutes' bench there is a place for defender Massadio Haidara, who has only played once this season - against Manchester City in the Capital One Cup. Before and after he has been sidelined by injury.
Haidara is joined among the replacements by Rob Elliot, Vurnon Anita, Sammy Ameobi, Gabriel Obertan, Hatem Ben Arfa and Papiss Cisse.
Newcastle United (4-4-2): Tim Krul; Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Davide Santon; Moussa Sissoko, Cheick Tiote, Yohan Cabaye, Yoan Gouffran; Shola Ameobi, Loic Remy
Substitutes: Rob Elliot, Massadio Haidara, Vurnon Anita, Sammy Ameobi, Gabriel Obertan, Hatem Ben Arfa, Papiss Cisse
Norwich City (4-5-1): John Ruddy; Russell Martin (c), Michael Turner, Ryan Bennett, Martin Olsson; Nathan Redmond, Bradley Johnson, Leroy Fer, Jonny Howson, Anthony Pilkington; Gary Hooper
Substitutes: Carlo Nash, Steven Whittaker, Sebastien Bassong, Josh Murphy, Wes Hoolahan, Johan Elmander, Lucianno Becchio
Referee: Mike Dean (The Wirral)