Facts and stats of the Boxing Day Premier League clash between Newcastle and Manchester City at St James' Park.
TEAM NEWS:
Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi is struggling to make the Boxing Day clash with Manchester City. Ameobi would have missed the postponed Barclays Premier League trip to Birmingham last weekend with a hamstring injury and is likely to sit out again. However, defender Sol Campbell has shaken off the bout of illness which threatened his participation at St Andrew`s and he and Steven Taylor will fight to keep their places as Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson belatedly return from suspension. Keeper Steve Harper, who was an unused substitute for the 3-1 victory over Liverpool on his return from shoulder surgery, is pushing to replace Tim Krul but Dan Gosling (knee), Ryan Taylor (ankle ligaments) and Hatem Ben Arfa (double leg fracture) are still out.
Nigel de Jong will return from suspension as Manchester City look to get their Premier League challenge back on track. Defeat to Everton on Monday cost City their chance to spend Christmas at the top of the table for the first time in 81 years. But they are undefeated away from Eastlands since the end of October and will fancy their chances of completing a league double over the Magpies. Mario Balotelli has shrugged off a minor knee ailment and is expected to be part of Roberto Mancini's squad, while Pablo Zabaleta (ankle) is also set to report fit.
FACTS:
Newcastle are without a win on Boxing Day in eight matches since 2001.
The Citizens are on a run of three straight wins on the 26th December.
Newcastle have won none of the last eight Premier League meetings with Man City
City have scored exactly two goals in each of their last four games against Newcastle.
Carlos Tevez has scored three goals in four Premier League appearances against Newcastle.
Kevin Nolan has now scored more goals at home this season (7) than ever before in a previous Premier League campaign.
The Magpies have been caught offside 24 times, fewer than any other team in the Premier League.
Newcastle have only kept one clean sheet in their last eight matches at St James Park.
Man City have won just one of the last six and none of their last four away games in the north east in the Premier League against Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough.
Manchester City have the best away record in the Premier League earning 17 points on the road with a goal difference of +8
