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Match officials confirmed for Terriers clash
Written by Dan King
Kevin Friend will referee Saturday's Premier League game against Huddersfield Town at St. James' Park (kick-off 3pm GMT).
It will be the third game involving the Magpies that the Leicestershire-based official has overseen this term, having taken charge of September's defeat at Manchester City and last month's Emirates FA Cup home tie against Blackburn Rovers, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Friend, who has been a member of the Select Group Referees since 2009, has taken charge of a League Cup final (2013) and the Community Shield (2012) over the course of a refereeing career which has spanned three decades. His first top-flight appointment came in 2009.
So far this season, he has refereed 27 games in all competitions, showing 94 yellow cards and just one red - to Brighton's Shane Duffy in the Seagulls' 3-1 win over Crystal Palace in December.
On Saturday, he will be assisted by Matthew Wilkes and Darren Cann. Martin Atkinson will be the fourth official.