Team news
Newcastle United report no fresh injury concerns ahead of Friday's match with Aston Villa.
Callum Wilson (hamstring), Allan Saint-Maximin (groin) and Miguel Almiron (knee) remain sidelined.
Jack Grealish misses out for Villa, but Matty Cash and Anwar El Ghazi are available.
Did you know?
Newcastle are unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League home meetings with Villa (W6 D5) since a 3-0 defeat in April 2005 during which the Magpies had three players sent off.
This is Newcastle's 14th PL encounter to be played on a Friday (W4 D2 L7), but only the second at St James' Park, following a 6-2 victory against Everton in March 2002.
Villa are looking to complete their first league double over Newcastle since 2004/05.
Only Manchester City (15) have kept more PL clean sheets than Villa's 14 this season. Eight of those shutouts for the Villans have been away from home, more than any other side.
Match officials
Referee: Paul Tierney. Assistants: Ian Hussin, Dan Cook. Fourth official: Andy Madley. VAR: Jarred Gillett. Assistant VAR: Timothy Wood.
