Trio's Return Gives Coach A Confident Boost

By Matt Jones
January 27 2006

Newcastle United trio Scott Parker (knee), Emre (hamstring) and Shola Ameobi (hip) are all fit to take on Cheltenham at Whaddon Road on Saturday in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Lee Bowyer however will miss the game with a virus - while Kieron Dyer and Craig Moore (both hamstring), Stephen Carr (hernia) and Steven Taylor (shoulder) are all still out.  Amady Faye will also miss the game due to being at the African Nations Cup with Senegal.

Newcastle (from): Given, Harper, Ramage, Babayaro, Elliott, Boumsong, Bramble, Parker, Emre, Solano, Luque, Clark, N'Zogbia, O'Brien, Brittain, Shearer, Ameobi, Chopra.

Newcastle United coach Dean Saunders is confident ahead of Saturday's clash, having recently watched the League Two side in action.

Saunders was at Whaddon Road on Tuesday night, along with manager Graeme Souness and Terry McDermott as Cheltenham took on Colchester United in the LDV Vans Trophy.  Cheltenham lost the game 1-0.

Speaking to the official Toon website, nufc.co.uk, Saunders said: "They seemed to have their strongest team out on Tuesday night.

"They were well organised. I have watched them twice now, I saw them when they beat Chester in the replay, then they lost to Colchester the other night.

"They have a big striker, and a couple of big centre backs, so they will be dangerous from set pieces.

"We will have to make sure we are well organised to deal with set pieces, though I think we have done that all season. We have only conceded one goal all season from a set piece.

"The thing for us is to try and stop them playing before they stop us from playing

"It's a big chance for their players, it's the game of their lives.

"They will love the publicity, it's a chance to put their manager in the spotlight, and it's important that we don't end up as one of those stats that you get in the FA Cup."

"Their pitch was a big plus for us, it keeps winning pitch of the year apparently.

"The pitch is the biggest leveller in a game like this, you saw that with Burton Albion when they played Manchester United.

"If you try and play it quickly and move it around with your good, technical players, then we can beat this team.

"If the pitch is a pudding then you cannot do that, but I don't think that will be the case in this game."

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