Football: Weekend guide to the Premiership - Newcastle v Arsenal Last season: 0-1

Bruce Pope
Saturday 27 February 1999 00:02 GMT
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NEWCASTLE WILL give fitness tests to the flu-stricken Alan Shearer and Didier Domi ahead of tomorrow's game with the champions Arsenal at St James' Park. Domi is expected to recover but Shearer remains a doubt and if the England captain fails a late fitness test Louis Saha, who scored the only goal in the FA Cup replay against Blackburn on Wednesday, will deputise once again.

Midfielder Stephen Glass will also have to prove he is ready to return from a knee injury, while new signing Silvio Maric is short of match fitness after his move from Croatia Zagreb.

"I'm very happy to come to Newcastle because it's a big club and I come from a small country," he said. "I played against Newcastle in the qualification for the Champions' League two years ago so I know some of the players.

"I need some time but I'm looking forward to playing in the Premiership."

Ruud Gullit was enthusiastic about his new signing. "Silvio is a player we followed for a couple of months and gives us more quality in the team," he said.

Central defender Martin Keown returns for Arsenal after four games out with a hamstring injury but their midfielder Emmanuel Petit faces another two weeks on the sidelines after a slight setback to his ankle injury.

The visitors have achieved Premiership doubles the past two seasons and have an opportunity to make it three having won the first game at Highbury 3-0. They also secured last year's double against Newcastle with a 2-0 win in the FA Cup Final.

Newcastle United (from): Given, Harper, Barton, Domi, Griffin, Charvet, Howey, Dabizas, Hamann, Speed, Solano, Glass, Brady, Lee, Shearer, Ketsbaia, Saha, Dalglish.

Arsenal (from): Seaman, Vivas, Winterburn, Adams, Bould, Keown, Parlour, Vieira, Hughes, Overmars, Anelka, Bergkamp, Kanu, Diawara, Grimandi, Garde, Manninger.

Suspensions: None.

Referee: M Reed.

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