Premier League: Newcastle vs Leicester City match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's Premier League fixture at St. James’ Park

Alan Pardew at the match between Newcastle and Stoke (GETTY IMAGES)

Winless Newcastle are in desperate need of points and under-pressure Alan Pardew will be hoping that his team can finally turn the corner on Saturday with a priceless win against surprise package Leicester City.

Papiss Cisse has twice this season saved Newcastle and Alan Pardew from the brink and will be hoping that he can carry on his solid start.

Newcastle will be without misfiring striker Emmanuel Riviere, who has been ruled out after he picked up a knock in training, but Pardew has confirmed that the revitalised Gabriel Obertan will be starting his second game in a row.

Leicester travel to St. James’ Park with confidence after picking up seven points in their last four games to propel themselves into mid-table. They were denied three points in their last game when Burnley’s Ross Wallace scored a 96th minute free-kick to salvage a point for the Clarets.

Foxes boss Nigel Pearson knows all about the home side having previously been assistant manager to Sam Allardyce and Glenn Roeder, before taking over briefly when both managers left the club.

The Premier League’s second highest scorer Leonardo Ulloa will be looking to continue his good form alongside Jamie Vardy and David Nugent.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Leicester 0 Newcastle 0, Championship, Jan 2010

Newcastle 1 (Guthrie) Leicester 0, Championship, Aug 2009

Newcastle 3 (Ameobi, Taggart og, Jenas) Leicester 1 (Ferdinand), Premier League, Feb 2007

STATS…

Newcastle United are unbeaten in their last eight league meetings with Leicester City (W4 D4)

Leonardo Ulloa has scored five goals from just six shots on target in the Premier League this season

Papiss Demba Cissé has scored four goals in his last three Premier League appearances; more than he'd managed in his previous 33 PL games (3)

Leicester City have kept a clean sheet in half (8) of their last 16 away matches in league competition

The Magpies are the only side yet to score first in a Premier League game this season

ODDS…

Newcastle to win: 2.2

Leicester to win: 3.4

Draw: 3.6

TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10.30pm.