The Premier League is back for matchday 32 this weekend and by far the biggest game in the fight against relegation takes place at Carrow Road as Norwich City take on Newcastle United.
A pair of strong outings before the week off means that Norwich are out of the bottom three and looking to distance themselves from 19th-placed Newcastle.
Norwich
© Getty ImagesThe Canaries have gone above the Tyne-Wear duo in what looks to be a three-team race for one place outside the bottom three thanks to four much-needed points from a possible six.
Alex Neil's side ended their 10-match wait for a league win by edging out West Bromwich Albion after holding top-four hopefuls and Champions League quarter-finalists Manchester City to a goalless draw.
It means that with seven matches of the season to go, Norwich are out of the bottom three, two clear of Sunderland and three above their opponents this weekend, although both North-East clubs do have a game in hand on the Canaries.
Last month's draw with City was an impressive one, but the Canaries have failed to win any of their last five Premier League games at Carrow Road (D2 L3) and surely must improve at home if they are to avoid the drop.
Away from the field last week, Norwich were in the news when their on-loan striker Dieumerci Mbokani survived the twin explosions at Brussels Airport, claiming afterwards that he was a minute from dying in the blasts.
There was also a departure over the international break, with Northern Ireland international striker Kyle Lafferty being loaned to Birmingham City in the Championship.
Recent form: DLLLDW
Newcastle
© Getty ImagesIt is fair to say that it has not quite gone to plan for Rafael Benitez since he took on the Newcastle job last month.
Benitez, who has won all three of his previous league games against Norwich, has overseen a 1-0 defeat at leaders Leicester City and a 1-1 draw with Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby.
Aleksandar Mitrovic's late equaliser sent St James' Park wild a couple of weeks ago and although it ended a four-game losing streak, Newcastle need wins fast.
Only in one previous top-flight campaign have Newcastle had fewer points from 30 games than this season (24 in 1977-78) and the Magpies were relegated that year.
The club's away form has been the main problem this season. Only Villa, with six points, have a worse away points haul than Newcastle's seven this season and the Magpies have lost seven in a row away from St James'.
The Toon Army have scored just twice in that away losing streak, which is their longest run without a win on the road in the league since a nine-game stretch between May and October 1977.
Recent form: WLLLLD
Team News
© Getty ImagesOne thing Newcastle fans can point to as unlucky this season is the number of injuries they have had to cope with, and they were dealt a fresh blow when goalkeeper Rob Elliot suffered a serious knee injury on international duty this week, ruling him out for the rest of the season and denying him a place in the Republic of Ireland squad at Euro 2016.
With first-choice keeper Tim Krul also out with a similar anterior cruciate ligament rupture, Karl Darlow will make his first appearance for the club since December between the sticks.
Midfielder Jack Colback is suspended for the Magpies' next two games having picked up his tenth booking of the season against Sunderland, but Daryl Janmaat is expected to shake off a knee problem.
Norwich hope to have Steven Naismith available after the forward withdrew from the Scotland squad due to a hamstring problem, but Nathan Redmond and Alexander Tettey (both ankle) remain out.
Norwich possible starting lineup:
Ruddy; Martin, Bassong, Klose, Olsson; Jarvis, Howson, O'Neil, Brady; Hoolahan; Naismith
Newcastle possible starting lineup:
Darlow; Janmaat, Mbemba, Lascelles, Anita; Shelvey, Sissoko; Townsend, Wijnaldum; Perez, Mitrovic
Head To Head
The reverse was Newcastle's biggest win of the season as Georginho Wijnaldum well and truly announced himself to the St James' faithful with four goals in a 6-2 triumph.
That made it six unbeaten for Newcastle against Norwich in the Premier League and four of those matches have ended in Magpies wins, although they have had more of their success at home.
Norwich have not lost at home to Newcastle in the Premier League since January 1994, winning three and drawing two since then.
The last time these two met at Carrow Road in January 2014 it was a goalless draw, with both sides having a man sent off late on.
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We say: Norwich 1-1 Newcastle
The international break came at a bad time for Norwich, but they should be confident of getting at least a draw here to keep the three-point cushion to Newcastle.
