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It's Mason In The Middle On Saturday
Written by Newcastle Utd
Lee Mason will referee Saturday's Barclays Premier League home game against Aston Villa
By Dan King - Newcastle United Digital Editor
Lee Mason will take charge of Newcastle United's Barclays Premier League fixture against Aston Villa on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
It is the fourth time this season the 43-year-old has been appointed to a match involving the Magpies, but the first at St. James' Park this term.
He was the man in the middle of October's 2-2 draw at Swansea City, which saw Papiss Cisse net twice to secure a point at the Liberty Stadium, and December's 4-1 defeat at Arsenal.
Mason also refereed last month's FA Cup defeat at Leicester City.
In total during the 2014/15 campaign, the Lancashire-based official has taken charge of 21 games across the Premier League, Championship, League One, FA Cup and Capital One Cup, issuing 69 yellow cards and five reds.
Mason began refereeing in 1988, and after working his way up through the leagues, took charge of his first of his first Football League match in August 2002 - a Division Three fixture between Shrewsbury and Exeter.
He was appointed to the Premier League in 2006, and his top flight bow came in February of that year when Middlesbrough suffered a 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Villa.
On Saturday, Mason will be assisted by Jake Collin and Matt Wilkes, with Stuart Attwell the game's fourth official.