The build up begins!

The countdown to the crunch clash with Wolves next Saturday has begun as Newcastle look to get the three points needed to keep any thoughts of relegation at bay.

It's been an awful time for NUFC fans to be honest, and I dare say that feeling extends to fans of other clubs who have only seen their team play two Premier League matches in the month of March. Fixture list congestion indeed!

However, despite the fact that the gap in fixtures has been less than ideal for fans of the club, especially those who aren't really interested in international football such as myself, it has at least afforded the players some time to rest up and recover from any knocks that they may have been carrying. So with just under a week to go until the fight for survival continues, how are we looking? Is there any early team news?

Well, yes there is. Straight from my 'not worth an article on their own' pile, Danny Guthrie is on standby to come in as a replacement for the suspended Cheik Tiote whilst Shane Ferguson is being 'considered' for his first Premier League start should Jose Enrique, who is currently rated as 'doubtful' for the visit of Wolves, not be fit enough to feature.

There is some early team news for the away side as well. Not being one to wish an injury on any player but, I couldn't help but smile when I heard of the news that Wolves' top scorer, Kevin Doyle, had limped out of the Republic of Ireland international with medial knee ligament damage at the weekend. Apparently it has pretty much put an end to his season, which is good news for the run in.

I really rate Doyle if I'm being honest. Granted he is not overly prolific, but he does bring an awful lot to the team and will work defending from the front for the full ninety minutes. Him being out is undoubtedly a bonus, but it doesn't mean that Wolves are suddenly impotent in attack as they still have Sylan Ebanks-Blake who caused us the damage when we travelled to Moronileux earlier on in the season.

As I said earlier, it's only early team news so it's liable to change throughout the week. No doubt the wires of communication will be opened up again this week and we start to hear more bits and bobs about what is going on at the club which we will of course endeavour to keep you up to date with here at NUFC Blog.

Me? I'm just glad we've got a game at the end of the week!