West Brom v Newcastle

TEAM NEWS

West Brom pair Salomon Rondon and James McClean continue to serve three-match suspensions.

West Brom head coach Tony Pulis said he will rotate his squad and he could bring in striker Saido Berahino for his first start since October.

Newcastle defender Jamaal Lascelles is back in training but is unlikely to be involved against the Baggies.

Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is expected to continue up front in the absence of Papiss Cisse, who has a groin injury.

MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES

Martin Fisher: "The mere presence of Tony Pulis at The Hawthorns is enough to persuade most pundits that West Brom aren't in any danger of relegation. The club is in safe hands. But the man himself will be guarding against any complacency.

"Forty points is his mantra and he'll be concerned at Albion's recent form. One win in their last eight games leaves them just three points above the bottom three.

"Newcastle again occupy that last spot in the relegation zone after their cruel stoppage-time loss to Everton.

"But Steve McClaren told me afterwards that he saw enough heart and unity in that display to be optimistic about their future.

"That future starts now."

Twitter: @mfisherfootball 

LAWRO'S PREDICTION

I can see West Brom will go and do a job on Newcastle, it's what they are particularly good at. Tony Pulis has always been excellent at pigeonholing results, he will have forgotten about the Boxing Day defeat at Swansea and they will be ready to go, and to win.

• Think you can do better than Lawro? Predict the score for this match and the rest of this round's Premier League fixtures in ourPredictor game.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• West Brom have won just one of their last four home games against Newcastle (D1, L2).
• Newcastle have only lost one of their last seven Premier League meetings with West Brom (W4, D2).

West Brom

• West Brom have gone five league games without a win for the first time under Tony Pulis (D3, L2).
• They have won just three of their last 13 league matches at home (D3, L7).
• The Baggies have only earned eight points at The Hawthorns this season - only Aston Villa have fared worse at home in the Premier League this season.
• West Brom have not won their final Premier League game of the calendar year since they returned to the top flight in 2010 (L3, D2).
• Victor Anichebe has scored five goals in the Premier League against Newcastle, more than against any other club.

Newcastle

• Newcastle have won two of their last three Premier League away games, having won just one of their previous 18 (W1, D3, L14).
• The Magpies have scored just five goals away from home - the lowest tally in the Premier League.
• They have failed to score in nine of their last 14 away league games.
• Steve McClaren's side have conceded 19 goals in their eight away matches this season - only Sunderland (28) and Norwich (22) have conceded more.