Newcastle v Reading LINEUPS

The teams have been announced for todays 3pm clash between Newcastle United and Reading. Reading have won 3 of their last 6 games in the Premier League whilst Newcastle have won just 2, however Newcastle have recently found their form. However the 2 side's stats for the season are spookily similar indicating that both clubs approach the match on even ground.

Newcastle will miss Steven Taylor who was ruled out at the last minute with food poisoning and who will be replaced by David Edgar who hasnt started a game for Newcastle over a year.

Edgar's name on the starting line-up made way on the bench for Lamine Diatta, who could seek his first appearence for Newcastle since signing last month until the end of the season.

With Reading just 3 points behind Newcastle a win could force them up the table; both teams have won 9 games, scored 58 goals and conceded 37.

Newcastle are still without Shay Given, James Milner, Peter Ramage, Claudio Cacapa and Stephen Carr who is recovering from a hamstring injury. Emre who scored against Reading last season, adds his name to the ever growing injury list after aggravating his calf injury in his return to action for the reserves last week and is likely to be out for another 3 weeks. Damien Duff remains on the bench alongside Alan Smith.

Keegan looks set to start with Martins, Owen and Viduka, who left White Hart Lane last weekend struggling with a tight hamstring, after the success of his last 2 games.

Steve Coppell is without midfielder Marek Matejovsky who is serving a one match ban, Jimmy Kebe who is suffering from a knee injury, Graeme Murty, also suffering from a knee injury and Brynjar Gunnarsson who has a groin problem. However Glenn Little, who returns after a year's absence from an Achilles injury and Kalifa Cisse may feature. 

Teams

Newcastle United:

Steve Harper, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Abdoulaye Faye, David Edgar, Nicky Butt, Geremi, Joey Barton, Michael Owen (c), Mark Viduka, Oba Martins

Subs:

Fraser Forster, Lamine Diatta, Alan Smith, Damien Duff, Andy Carroll

Reading:

Marcus Hahnemann, Nicky Shorey, Kalifa Cisse, Kevin Doyle, Stephen Hunt, John Oster, Dave Kitson, James Harper, Ivar Ingimarsson, Liam Rosenior, Ulises De La Cruz

Subs:

Bobby Convey, Emerse Fae, Shane Long, Michael Duberry, Adam Federici

Referee:

Lee Probert