Palace v Newcastle - Team news preview

Last updated : 19 November 2004 By Nik Taylor

Palace will line up against Newcastle tomorrow knowing a win could take them twelth in the Premiership.

Dowie hopes to welcome back Andy Johnson into the side, after the striker missed the 3-2 defeat at Anfield last week.

The free-scoring forward will have a late fitness test – with Dougie Freedman standing by to deputise again should AJ miss out.

Aki Riihilahti should recover from a knock picked up against Liverpool last weekend, but Fitz Hall is expected to miss out once again as he battles with a knee injury.

Newcastle have been hit by the news that a thigh injury will keep Alan Shearer out of tomorrow’s game. The absence of Shearer means Souness will instead play a Bellamy/Kluivert pairing up front.

The Geordies have worse problems at the back, with Stephen Carr and Andy O’Brien both out tomorrow.

Probable Palace XI:

Kiraly
Leigertwood Boyce Popovic Granville
Routledge Riihilahti Hughes Watson Kolkka
Johnson