Best starts for Magpies

Alan Pardew handed Leon Best the task of finding the goals to extend Newcastle’s unbeaten start to the Barclays Premier League season against Fulham.

With Shola Ameobi ruled out by a hip injury, Best was preferred to summer signing Demba Ba in attack, while Steven Taylor, Cheick Tiote, Jonas Gutierrez and Gabriel Obertan were restored to the starting line-up after the midweek Carling Cup win at Scunthorpe.

Fulham boss Martin Jol made two changes to the side which secured the club’s passage to the Europa League group stage on Thursday evening as Matthew Briggs and Pajtim Kasami replaced John Arne Riise and Andrew Johnson.

Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Ryan Taylor, Lovenkrands, Cabaye, Tiote, Gutierrez, Obertan, Best.

Subs: Soderberg, Smith, Ba, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Vuckic, Ferguson.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Briggs, Hughes, Hangeland, Baird, Dempsey, Murphy, Sidwell, Duff, Dembele, Kasami.

Subs: Etheridge, Kelly, Johnson, Senderos, Gecov, Etuhu, Frei.

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)