Pardew to ring changes for United clash

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is likely to draft a quartet of big names back into his starting line-up for Sunday’s Barclays Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester United.

Defender Davide Santon, midfielders Jonas Gutierrez and Hatem Ben Arfa and striker Demba Ba were all rested for last night’s 3-0 Europa League victory over Bordeaux, which saw full-back Danny Simpson return from a hamstring injury.

Keeper Steve Harper will resume after taking over from Rob Elliot against the French side when he suffered a groin injury, with 19-year-old Jak Alnwick providing the back-up from the bench, but number one Tim Krul (elbow), defenders Fabricio Coloccini (hamstring) and Steven Taylor (calf) and utility man Ryan Taylor are still out.

Provisional squad: Harper, Alnwick, Simpson, Tavernier, Ferguson, Perch, Williamson, Santon, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Anita, Bigirimana, Gosling, Marveaux, Obertan, Vuckic, Abeid, Amalfitano, Sammy Ameobi, Ba, Cisse, Shola Ameobi, Campbell.