NEWCASTLE (Sporting Alert) — Newcastle United were without midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa for this afternoon’s English Barclays Premier League match against Manchester City at St James’ Park.
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Premier League at St James’ Park, Newcastle
Date: 15/12/2012
Ben Arfa will miss the game because of a hamstring injury he picked up during Monday night’s defeat at Fulham so Alan Pardew was forced to make one change from the side that played the last fixture.
Skipper Fabricio Coloccini will lead the backline and he’s partnered by Mike Williamson, Davide Santon and Danny Simpson.
Papiss Cisse and Demba Ba continue to lead the attacking line.
Meanwhile, Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, as expected was without captain and leading defender Vincent Kompany, who misses the game with a groin injury he picked up against Manchester United in Manchester derby last weekend.
Kompany was replaced by Kolo Toure, with Joleon Lescott starting on the bench.
Mancini also drops striker Mario Balotelli from his side altogether and recalled Carlos Tevez to start with Sergio Aguero.
The game also sees Javi Garcia replacing the suspended Gareth Barry, while David Silva, Samir Nasri and Yaya Toure kept their spots.
Edin Dzeko, Scott Sinclair and Aleksandar Kolarov are amongst the substitutes.
LINE-UPS: Newcastle United vs Manchester City
Newcastle United (4-3-3): Tim Krul; Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Davide Santon; James Perch, Cheick Tiote, Vurnon Anita; Papiss Cisse, Demba Ba, Jonas Gutierrez.
Subs: Rob Elliot, James Tavernier, Shane Ferguson, Gael Bigirimana, Sylvain Marveaux,Sammy Ameobi, Shola Ameobi
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Joe Hart; Pablo Zabaleta, Kolo Toure, Matija Nastasic, Gael Clichy; Javi Garcia, Yaya Toure (c); Samir Nasri, Sergio Aguero, David Silva; Carlos Tevez
Subs: Costel Pantilimon, Aleksandar Kolarov, Karim Rekik, Joleon Lescott, Abdul Razak, Scott Sinclair, Edin Dzeko
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)
