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Friend Reunited At The Etihad
Written by Newcastle Utd
Kevin Friend will take charge of Newcastle's Barclays Premier League fixture at Manchester City on Saturday
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Kevin Friend will take charge of Newcastle United's Barclays Premier League fixture at Manchester City on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
It is the first time this season that the Leicestershire-based official has overseen a Magpies match - although last term he was the man in the middle of two United fixtures, at home against Stoke and Tottenham.
In total during the 2015/16 campaign, Friend has refereed five games across the Premier League and Championship, handing out 20 yellow cards and three reds.
The 44-year-old officiated in the Leicestershire Senior League and Midland Football Alliance before being promoted to the National List of Referees, and later to the Select Group of Referees ahead of the 2009/10 campaign.
And Friend refereed his first top flight fixture in September 2009, as Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Fulham.
He was the man in the middle of the 2012 Community Shield, which saw Manchester City triumph 3-2 over Chelsea in a thriller at Villa Park, and also given the top job in the 2013 Capital One Cup final, where Swansea beat Bradford City.
On Saturday at the Etihad Stadium, Friend will be assisted by Peter Kirkup and Constantine Hatzidakis, with Kevin Wright the game's fourth official.