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Friend Reunited At St. James' Park
Written by Newcastle Utd
Kevin Friend will take charge of Newcastle's Premier League home fixture against Manchester City on Tuesday
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Kevin Friend will take charge of Newcastle United's Barclays Premier League home fixture against Manchester City on Tuesday (7.45pm kick-off).
It is the second time this season that the Leicestershire-based official has overseen a Magpies match, having been the man in the middle of the reverse game, when United travelled to the Etihad Stadium back in October.
On that disappointing afternoon in the North-West, Friend booked five players including Vurnon Anita and Fabricio Coloccini.
In total during the 2015/16 campaign, Friend has refereed 27 games across the Premier League, Championship, League One, FA Cup and Capital One Cup, handing out 81 yellow cards and six reds, and awarding six penalties.
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 Tuesday at St. James' Park, Friend will be assisted by Dave Bryan and Lee Betts, with Neil Swarbrick the game's fourth official.