Gameweek 24 gets underway this evening with four matches to entertain us. With the deadline for transfers now passed, we can finally relax and soak in the action – as always, the Dugout Discussion chatroom opens its doors as the games get underway. The team news from Tuesday’s quartet of fixtures is in and is as follows:
Paul Lambert makes four alterations to the side that lost at Millwall in the FA Cup on Friday evening. Brad Guzan, Nathan Baker, Barry Bannan and Christian Benteke all return, with the Belgian partnering Darren Bent up top against Newcastle in what looks a continuation of the 3-5-2 formation.
Aston Villa XI: Guzan, Vlaar, Clark, Baker; Lowton, Westwood, N’Zogbia, Bannan, Bennett; Benteke, Bent.
Alan Pardew also makes four changes from the side that lost at home to reading last time out. Mike Williamson, Vernun Anita, Shola Ameobi and Sylvain Marveaux all drop out, with Steven Taylor and James Perch joined by new boys Yoan Gouffran and Moussa Sissoko in the starting XI.
Newcastle XI: Krul; Debuchy, S.Taylor, Coloccini, Santon; Perch, Cabaye, Sissoko; Gouffran, Cisse, Gutierrez
At the Stadium of Light, Martin O’Neill names an unchanged line-up from the side that beat Wigan in the previous Gameweek. This means there’s no place for James McClean once again, with Adam Johnson on the left and Stephane Sessegnon on the right.
Sunderland XI: Mignolet, Gardner, O’Shea, Bramble, Colback; Sessegnon, N’Diaye, Vaughan, Larsson, Johnson; Fletcher.
The visitors make three alterations from their previous match. In come Gerhard Tremmel, Dwight Tiendalli and Itay Shechter, with Michel Vorm, Angel Rangel and Ki Sung-Yeung dropping out. Michu shifts back to his regular role in “the hole” as a result of Shechter’s selection.
Swansea XI: Tremmel; Tiendalli, Chico, Williams, Davies; Britton, De Guzman, Michu; Dyer, Shechter, Hernandez
Loic Remy recovers from the hamstring strain that kept him out of the weekend FA Cup loss to MK Dons. Harry Redknapp rings the changes from that defeat, with Fabio utilised on the right of an attacking midfield three which also contains Esteban Granero and Adel Taarabt.
QPR XI: Cesar, Onuoha, Nelsen, Hill, Traore, Mbia, Derry, Fabio, Taarabt, Granero, Remy
Roberto Mancini makes four changes from City’s FA Cup win at Stoke on Saturday. Joe Hart returns between the sticks, with Costel Pantilimon dropping back to the bench, while Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero replace Aleksandar Kolarov, Vincent Kompany and Edin Dzeko. Javi Garcia looks to be partnering Joleon Lescott at centre-half, with Matija Nastasic only fit enough for the bench after failing to recover from a knee problem.
Man City XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Garcia, Lescott, Clichy, Milner, Barry, Nasri, Silva, Aguero, Tevez
Stoke welcome back Geoff Cameron after the US international missed out against City last weekend. Dean Whitehead is retained at right-back, while Peter Crouch leads the line again in a side that is unchanged from the previous league game away to Swansea.
Stoke Starting XI: Begovic; Whitehead, Shawcross Huth, Cameron; Walters, Whelan, Nzonzi, Adam, Etherington; Crouch
Roberto Martinez makes a couple of changes from the XI that lost at home to Sunderland. Roman Golobart comes in at the back, allowing Emmerson Boyce to move to the right of midfield once again as Ronnie Stam drops out. Jordi Gomez is also omitted in favour of new boy Roger Espinoza.
Wigan XI: Al Habsi; Golobart, Caldwell, Figueroa; Boyce, McCarthy, McArthur, Beausejour, Espinoza, Di Santo, Maloney
11 years, 3 months agoMancini said he doesn't think City will sign anyone to replace Balotelli in this window.