NUFC v BORO Team Confirmation

Newcastle United face Middlesbrough in the Tyne-Tees Derby tomorrow lunchtime in a televised clash. Keegan will see his limited side face a confident Middlesbrough team who successfully secured the services of Afonso Alves from Heerenveen this week, a record breaking signing for the club in the dying hours of the transfer window.

Newcastle go into the game without Defenders Habib Beye and Abdoulaye Faye, Striker Obafemi Martins & Midfielder Geremi and Jose Enrique

They welcome back to the side Emre who has served a 3 match ban, and hope to see Mark Viduka fully recovered from a thigh injury in time to play a part in the game.

If Viduka manages to play he will come face to face with old team-mates David Wheater and Robert Huth neither of whom will allow him an easy match. However, he has been spared from squaring up to former team-mate Jonathon Woodgate once more, after he moved to Spurs earlier in the week.

For Middlesbrough, Mido is raring to go but will not feature at all despite Tuncay Sanli being sidelined with a hamstring injury. Southgate will start Jeremie Aliadiere who had a groin problem and defender Emanuel Pogatetz who was suffering with an ankle injury.

Despite injecting confidence into the side Alves will not play against Newcastle as Middlesbrough are still trying to secure a visa for the Brazilian.

Newcastle drew 2-2 with Boro in August when they met at the Riverside, hopefully Boro's away record will help Newcastle secure a win. Middlesbrough have scored just 8 goals on the road and lost 6 games, they are however unbeaten in their last 5 matches despite only winning 3 of their last 9 matches.

On the other hand Newcastle have forgotten how to score in the Premier League and are yet to win a match under the management of Kevin Keegan, they go into the match having won just one game in their last 10 of all competitions, that game was a 4-1 win against stoke in the FA Cup. 

If Newcastle fail to secure a win against Middlesbrough tomorrow their North East rivals will replace them in the league. The match is a must win for both teams.

Starting Line Ups

Newcastle:

Given, Carr, N'Zogbia, Taylor, Cacapa, Barton, Butt, Emre, Owen, Smith. 

Subs:

Forster, Milner, Edgar, Viduka, Ameobi

Middlesbrough:

Schwarzer, Young,  Wheater, Huth, Pogatetz, O'Neil, Rochemback, Cattermole, Arca, Downing, Aliadiere.

Subs:

Turnbull, Grounds, Johnson, Boateng, Lee