Ba returns for Magpies
Newcastle striker Demba Ba returned to the starting line-up for this afternoon’s Barclays Premier League clash with Aston Villa.
The 15-goal frontman went straight back into the team after his sabbatical at the African Nations Cup, although international team-mate and new signing Papiss Demba Cisse had to make do with a place on the bench as Ba and James Perch replaced Shola Ameobi and Hatem Ben Arfa.
Villa boss Alex McLeish named an unchanged side, which meant Shay Given returned to Tyneside for the first time, while there were places too for fellow old boys Charles N’Zogbia and Stephen Ireland.
Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon, Ryan Taylor, Guthrie, Perch, Gutierrez, Ba, Best.
Subs: Elliot, Cisse, Ben Arfa, Gosling, Shola Ameobi, Obertan, Ferguson.
Aston Villa: Given, Hutton, Cuellar, Dunne, Warnock, Ireland, Petrov, Clark, N’Zogbia, Keane, Bent.
Subs: Guzan, Heskey, Bannan, Weimann, Lichaj, Baker, Gardner.
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
