Newcastle and Manchester United meet at St. James' Park on Wednesday night to complete their league meetings for the season inside the space of five weeks, and though the visitors come into the game having lost their previous fixture, the Magpies efforts to an end a run of eight games without a win may have to be near-Herculean.

Sir Alex Ferguson's men currently sit second in the Premier League behind neighbours Manchester City having been surprisingly bested at Old Trafford by strugglers Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, and the Red Devils supremo, who's 70th birthday celebrations were somewhat dampened by that result, will no doubt be looking for an immediate response from his team.

Newcastle, too, were beaten last time out, going down 3-1 at Anfield to a Steven Gerrard-inspired Liverpool, and though they are not quite challenging for the same honours as the Old Trafford outfit, a response on Tyneside would be welcomed perhaps even more than one in Manchester. Alan Pardew last saw his side collect three points on November 5th against Everton in front of the Sky cameras, and would doubtless be jumping joy should the Magpies repeat the winning result of that day in front of a watching TV audience.

Head to head

In fact, another 1-1 draw, as the black and whites managed at Old Trafford in November courtesy of a Demba Ba penalty, would no doubt leave the SJP faithful feeling some sort of relief from their current form that has seen them slip out of the Champions League places but still remain in a very respectable 7th place. However, Newcastle don't have the best of records against Manchester United, having last recorded a home victory against them 10 years ago, running out 4-3 winners.

In the eight league games on Tyneside between the two sides since then, Newcastle have scored just eight times, conceding 22 in the process. Fans of historical landmarks will no doubt be pleased to hear that this season marks the 15th anniversary of that 5-0 win, though here's a sobering thought for anyone thinking of celebrating - since presiding over that howking, Sir Alex Ferguson will have seen 15 different names take to the dugout at SJP in either a permanent or caretaker basis. One for each year...

Team news

Newcastle go into the game still without long term absentee Steven Taylor, though unconfirmed news from the defender's camp suggests Taylor may return to action before the end of the season, sooner than was first predicted. Danny Guthrie, Peter Lovenkrands and Sylvain Marveaux won't feature, nor will Nile Ranger, the striker having returned injured from his loan spell at Barnsley.

Former Red Devil Gabriel Obertan has also been ruled out, meaning he won't appear against the club that sold him in the summer. The French winger limped off against Liverpool with an apparent leg injury, though it's unclear how long he'll be out of action for. Ryan Taylor was substituted at half time against Liverpool with a slight ankle knock but should be fine.

Wednesday's fixture is likely to the be the last for Cheick Tiote and Demba Ba before they join up with their respective international squads for the African Cup of Nations, though Alan Pardew remains confident of keeping the pair in Tyneside for the F.A Cup tie against Blackburn on Saturday.

For Manchester United, Nemanja Vidic, Fabio and Darren Fletcher all miss out, though Chris Smalling is expected to return to ease the Old Trafford outfit's defensive worries. Midfielders Antonio Valencia and Michael Carrick deputised at the back at the weekend. Wayne Rooney and Darron Gibson should also return.

Tactics

Alan Pardew dispensed of the services of Leon Best for the trip to Anfield on Friday night and opted to play Haris Vuckic in an advanced role behind Ba, resulting in the Toon lining up in a 4-4-1-1 formation. Whether that stays in place for the visit of Manchester United remains to be soon, but one would like to hope Newcastle will take to the field with a more positive shape in front of their own fans.

The Magpies often looked stilted, and Ba isolated, without the presence of a second forward, and though caution must be exercised against such a potent attacking threat as that possessed by Sir Alex Ferguson's men, the SJP faithful would surely like to see their side seize the initiative with a return to 4-4-2.

That's how Manchester United should start the game, despite having their options limited somewhat through injuries. An interesting aside to Ferguson's team selection could be the position Rooney is selected in. With Dimitar Berbatov having scored six goals in his last three games, and Javier Hernandez favoured alongside the Bulgarian, Rooney could move into midfield, where he has been utilised in the past, to ease the pressure on Anderson and Park Ji Sung.

Key Players

Newcastle United: Demba Ba - 14 league goals in 18 league starts for the Senegalese striker means Ba remains the man to watch in a black and white shirt. Though the latest addition to his tally may be disputed for some while yet, and he was forced to plow a lone furrow at Anfield, Ba still looked deadly when he did see the ball in the opposition area, and was unlucky not to score a second when Martin Skrtel cleared an effort off the line.

With Manchester United's decidedly shaky looking backline being breached three times by lowly Blackburn, Ba could well be on the scoresheet again before he heads off for the African Cup of Nations. Newcastle will certainly miss him.

Manchester United: Dimitar Berbatov - the man in form for the Red Devils, Berbatov added to his hat-trick against Wigan with two well taken poacher's efforts at Old Trafford at the weekend. A threat from close range as well as further out, the Bulgarian may not always be Sir Alex Ferguson's first name on the teamsheet but his goalscoring ability cannot be questioned. Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson dealt with Andy Carroll at Anfield, and must provide a similar display with Berbatov.

Referee

2010 FIFA World Cup Final referee Howard Webb takes charge of his first Newcastle game since the 1-0 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in August. Webb has officiated two Manchester United games so far this season, those being the 8-2 demolition of Arsenal and the 2-0 win for the Red Devils over QPR at Loftus Road. Six years ago, the Rotherham-based official took charge of a Newcastle United vs. Manchester United clash on Tyneside, which Sir Alex Ferguson's men won 2-0.

Possible line-ups

Newcastle United(4-4-2): Krul; Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Ryan Taylor; Sammy Ameobi, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez; Best, Ba

Manchester United(4-4-2): De Gea; Valencia, Evans, Smalling, Evra; Park, Carrick, Anderson, Nani; Rooney, Berbatov