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Referee revealed for Baggies clash
Written by Dan King
David Coote will be the referee when Newcastle United entertain West Bromwich Albion on Saturday (kick-off 3pm BST).
This will be the Nottinghamshire-based official's first league game involving the Magpies this season - and indeed his first ever Premier League appointment.
However, he was the man in the middle when United's under-23s travelled to Port Vale in the Checkatrade Trophy in October. He took charge of three United matches last term - a home defeat to Blackburn, a St. James' Park success over Wigan and the Emirates FA Cup loss at Oxford.
Coote began life as a whistle-blower at the age of just 16 and was promoted to the list of Football League referees in 2010. In May 2014, he took charge of the League One play-off final at Wembley between Rotherham United and Leyton Orient.
So far this season, he's shown 143 yellow cards and five red in 35 matches.
On Saturday, he will be assisted by Lee Betts and Andy Halliday. Martin Atkinson will be the fourth official.