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Martin In The Middle On Saturday
Written by Newcastle Utd
Martin Atkinson will take charge of United's Premier League home fixture against Aston Villa on Saturday
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Martin Atkinson will take charge of Newcastle United's Barclays Premier League home fixture against Aston Villa on Saturday (5.30pm kick-off).
It is the second time the Yorkshire-based official has overseen a Magpies match this season, having been the man in the middle of September's 2-2 home draw with Chelsea.
On that afternoon against Jose Mourinho's Blues, he booked three players including United midfielder Jack Colback.
In total during the 2015/16 campaign, Atkinson has refereed 21 games across the Premier League, Champions League and international level, handing out 84 yellow cards and no reds.
Having started refereeing at the age of 16 in his local Bradford leagues, Atkinson rose through the leagues and was appointed to his first top flight fixture in April 2005, as Manchester City took on Birmingham City.
He has grown in stature to be regarded as one of the country's top referees and in recent years has overseen the 2006 FA Community Shield, the 2011 FA Cup Final, and the 2014 Capital One Cup final.
Atkinson, aged 44, has also run the rule over numerous World Cup and European Championships qualifiers and Champions League fixtures, and was handed the 2015 Europa League final between Dnipro and Sevilla.
Along with another fellow English referee Mark Clattenburg, he will also officiate at Euro 2016 in France next summer.
On Saturday at St. James' Park, Atkinson will be assisted by Mike Mullarkey and Stephen Child, with Anthony Taylor the game's fourth official.
Tickets for Saturday's Barclays Premier League fixture against Aston Villa are still on sale. To secure your seat at St. James' Park, click here.