Sunday’s Sky game sees the Toon Army extend a warm welcome to the bottom end of the Tyne-Tees region. Which of these neighbours will come out on top?

Newcastle are, of course, top the table, with Hughton seeking to extend his unbeaten run as permanent manager. The season started with Southgate in charge at the Boro. After 12 games, he was sacked, with the team 1 point behind the table toppers, as his club aimesd to move in a different direction.

The new man in charge of the visitors, is, for the second week in a row, another former protégé of Sir Alex Ferguson, a certain Gordon Strachan. Strachan has had an immediate effect, the Boro plummeting down the table with 5 points from 7 games, leaving them in mid-table, 17 points off the pace.

During his 7 matches in charge at Middlesbrough, Strachan has not seen his team keep a clean sheet, despite not conceding in the first half in 6 of them. His own team have failed to find the net in 4 of those, albeit scoring 5 at QPR, away from their demanding home supporter. Similarly, Strachan has a poor record at St James’ with 1 point out of 24 as manager of Coventry and Southampton.

Team selection adds to the Boro manager’s headaches, with a number of players unavailable combined with his usual dilemma of 4-4-2 or 4-5-1, with the injury list suggesting the former. It is likely, however, that Brad Jones will continue in goal, despite his responsibility for the solitary goal defeat at Cardiff.

The back 4 is restricted by Sean St Ledger’s loan deal coming to a close, so the familiar face of Wheater might be joined in the middle by Austrian international, Pogatetz. Riggott might be in contention for his first start of the season, as is youngster Jonathan Ground, while Tony McMahon will take his place on the flank.

Boro boast some flair, if not grit in midfield although Digard, O’Neil and Bates are almost definitely out. Adam Johnson is hoping to be fit, with Arca a memorably talented option and Yeats, signed from Colchester, a decent attacking choice. Rhys Williams, a Wales U21 and Australian full international with Indian mother, looks set for a holding role, possibly alongside Osbourne.

If Boro do go for two up front, the most likely pairing is former Reading goal machines, Kitson and Lita. The latter will look forward to doing battle with former England U21 colleague, Steve Taylor. Marcus Bent, is also an option who can drop back to midfield, and Makes his 11^th visit with his 9^th club, having scored 2 with Ipswich on this ground back in 2002.

Chris Hughton faces different dilemmas in his selection in his quest for a ninth game unbeaten and to preserve the best home defensive record in the league. The English born keeper with the lowest concession rate in the country, Steve Harper, is set to continue in goal.

Having been on the bench at Barnsley, Simpson will be eager for a recall ahead of a possible permanent signing. Hughton will have to judge whether the passing ability of Ryan Taylor last weekend that led to the first goal for is sufficient to justify his defensive positioning for the two goals against.

Elsewhere along the back line, Steve Taylor, Coloccini (50th league start) and Enrique pick themselves at the start of the congested Christmas fixture list.

The absence of Jonas against Barnsley highlighted the balance that Jonas brings to the team. Danny Guthrie on the right faces competition from both Ryan Taylor and Pancrate who surely needs more time to gain full match fitness. Having passed the landmark of 5 years without a home league goal, Alan Smith is set to make his 50^th league start, with top scorer Nolan seemingly undroppable.

Andy Carroll sits out this match through suspension, and assuming Butt misses out in a home game where the need to attack is crucial, there is a hard choice for who to play up front.

With 3 goals in 5 starts against Boro, and a goal per start this season, Shola is an obvious choice as he needs 2 goals to equal John Tudor’s scoring achievements for the Magpies, this being an appropriate stage for him to achieve the milestone. Lovenkrands might be the preferred partner with Harewood and Ranger also in contention.

Referee for the occasion is Kevin Friend, who makes his 2^nd journey from Leicester to the North East in 5 days. He will have already endeared himself to both sets of supporters, having officiated in Sunderland’s home defeat by Aston Villa, sending off Cana in the process.

This will be Friend’s first game at St James’. Although he was in charge for the away win at Sheffield United, whilst it is also the second time that he has done Middlesbrough, the first being in their last but one home win against Ipswich in September.

December is Boro’s best month to visit St James’, having been beaten only 3 times in 12 matches with 4 wins and 5 draws. Most of those games have been just after Christmas, however.

Odds will favour a home win, potentially the 3^rd Newcastle goal being the 100^th at home in laegue matches against Boro. The visitors have not gone 3 league games without scoring since April 2003, the last time they lost 3 without scoring being April 2002, so this week’s prediction is a repeat of last season’s scoreline, 3-1 – unless Hughton continues with Butt.

P60 W31 D12 L17 F100 A60

League

P57 W30 D11 L16 F97 A57

2^nd Tier

P9 W4 D3 L2 F19 A11

Get on the Bet Special here, 11/1 for Nolan to get the first goal

• Rest In Peace Number 9
• PUMA® And NUFC Confirmed
• Mike Ashley Uncovered
• Leon Best Deal Almost Done
• Hall Fitz The Bill
• Leicester City v Newcastle United – Match Preview
• A Window Of Opportunity
• Fitz Hall Pens Loan Deal
• Geremi Has Left The Building
• Talk Of The Tyne – Coming Soon!