Strong 2011 puts Newcastle in position for European challenge

It always goes so quickly doesn't it? Yes here we are again at the climax of another year, and its has been yet another tumultuous one on Tyneside, complete with plenty of ups and downs.

Still, despite the sales of Carroll and Enrique; the Joey Barton saga and the infamous stadium name change, Newcastle United are well placed to make a return to European competition. 

A 1st goal of the season for Hatem Ben Arfa and a 14th for Demba Ba helped the Magpies to a 2-0 win at Bolton Wanderers on Boxing Day, a victory that ended a six match winless run. 

United's Boxing Day triumph means that Alan Pardew's side will leapfrog Liverpool into 6th place with a rare victory at Anfield on Friday. A win on Merseyside would also leave Newcastle level on points with Arsenal and just one point behind 4th place Chelsea, although both those sides would have a game more to play.

Taking the three points away from Anfield promises to be an arduous task, Newcastle have not won there in the League since Robert Lee and Andy Cole netted in a 2-0 triumph back in April 1994 (Newcastle completed the double over Roy Evans' Reds that season), and their record since has been nothing short of dismal.

Still, Pardew's charges can take heart from the fact that Liverpool have only won three times at home this season, and although the outstanding performances of a number of opposition goalkeepers have played a role in that statistic, it is fair to say that Liverpool's home form has been indifferent at best. 

Newcastle will also be buoyed by the absence of Luis Suarez - the Liverpool talisman who is serving a 1 match suspension for aiming an offensive gesture at Fulham supporters during the clash between the two clubs last month - and with Toon old boys Andy Carroll and Jose Enrique set to start for the Reds, the Magpies will need no extra motivation to try and wrap up the points. 

Thanks to their fantastic early season form, Newcastle are in thick of the European picture, however there are a few factors that will be key in determining whether they stay there.

United's most immediate concern is out of their control, top-scorer Demba Ba and midfield mainstay Cheick Tiote are both set to travel to the African Cup of Nations with Senegal and Cote D'Ivoire respectively, meaning they will miss a maximum of six league games.

Newcastle coped well in the weeks where Tiote was out of action with injury, but how they cope without the prolific Ba remains to be seen. If the side struggles for goals without their Parisian targetman then it could well derail their season, on the other hand, if the likes of Leon Best, Hatem Ben Arfa and Shola Ameobi are able to fill the void, then the Toon Army's European dreams may not seem so far fetched. 

Whether Pardew is allowed to go into the January transfer market for another Centre Back will also go a long way to determining how far Newcastle's European push goes. Defence is an area of the side that lacks significant depth, and this has been exposed in recent weeks due to the season ending injury sustained by Steven Taylor. 

Mike Williamson has since returned to the fray but another injury to him or to Captain Fabricio Coloccini could have disastrous consequences for Newcastle's campaign. Pardew understands this and he is therefore desperate to add at least 1 new face at the Centre Back position. 

Ajax's Belgian Captian Jan Vertonghen has been mentioned as a possible target, though he would command a fee in excess of £10m. West Ham's James Tomkins, Birmingham City's Liam Ridgewell and FC Twente's Douglas Franco Teixeira are also all reportedly on Newcastle's radar. 

Of course, adding a new body to Newcastle's defensive ranks all depends on whether Mike Ashley is willing to release the funds to make it happen. If he isn't he will risk the club sliding into midtable mediocrity. However, if he agrees to do so, the travelling Toon Army could well be dusting off their passports come the end of the season.

Taylor injury exposes Magpies Achilles heel

It was all going so well, Newcastle United had just earned a fantastic point at Old Trafford and were in confident mood ahead of their clash with Chelsea.

However, things change quickly in Football and Alan Pardew’s side are now facing an injury crisis that threatens to derail their fine start to the Premier League season after Chelsea ran out 3-0 winners at St James’ Park, a score line which very much flattered Andre Villas-Boas’ charges.

The defeat should not be difficult for Newcastle to shrug off, they have proven themselves to be a spirited side throughout this campaign, however, the loss of Steven Taylor for the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon will surely be a massive blow to a team that has prided itself on its defensive strength.

Newcastle’s captain Fabricio Coloccini was also forced off with a thigh strain during the clash with Chelsea and is a major doubt for the Magpies’ trip to Norwich City this weekend.

The possible absence of both their first choice centre backs would pose Pardew with a major dilemma, as their only other experienced central defender, Mike Williamson is still recovering from a long-term injury suffered in the Carling Cup at Scunthorpe, leaving  James Perch as the only senior option at the position.

Pardew now must carefully reshuffle his pack for the clash at Carrow Road, 21-year-old Hungarian Tamas Kadar could well be called up to the lineup, while full backs Danny Simpson and Davide Santon have some experience of moving into the centre of defence.

The crisis has exposed what is perhaps Newcastle’s biggest fallibility, lack of squad depth, and they will now face a tricky trip to East Anglia to face a Norwich side that have built their team around the considerable aerial presence of striker Grant Holt.

Regardless of what happens on Saturday, the decimation of Newcastle’s first choice defence will surely prompt Pardew to push owner Mike Ashley to release more funds in order to add reinforcements in the January transfer window. Whether the unpredictable Ashley will grant this wish is another matter entirely.


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