Robert Jones has been confirmed as the referee for Newcastle United’s final home game of the season against Sheffield United on Wednesday night (6pm kick-off).
The Magpies face the relegated Blades in front of a crowd at St. James’ Park for the first and final time this term, with Jones appointed to keep order between the sides.
It is the Merseyside-based official’s first season in the top flight, having been promoted to the Select Group ahead of the start of the 2020/21 campaign.
Prior to that, Jones had worked his way up through the English football pyramid quite rapidly; as recently as 2014, he was officiating in the National League.
But he became an EFL regular in the middle by 2016 and, after 26 Championship outings as a referee and 15 Premier League postings as a fourth official last term, he made the step up last summer.
Since then, Jones has taken charge of 21 matches, comprising games in the top flight, Championship, Carabao Cup and FA Cup – but Wednesday’s fixture will be the third time he has overseen a contest involving the Magpies this season, following the Carabao Cup defeat to Brentford in December and the 2-1 defeat at home to Leicester City in January.
In those 21 games he has shown a total of 39 yellow cards and just three reds – two of which have come in games featuring Sheffield United, including one to the Blades’ Phil Jagielka in their 1-0 win over Aston Villa in March.
Jones will be assisted by Harry Lennard and Eddie Smart in midweek, with Tony Harrington named as the fourth official.
Martin Atkinson will be the VAR, and will be assisted by Peter Kirkup.