Newcastle can halt West Ham revival

Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew takes on his former club at St James Park, but West Ham have become a transformed outfit over the Christmas period.

Pardew has had a mixed record since he took over from Chris Hughton on Tyneside, winning two and losing two of his four games in charge. He welcomes former club West Ham on Wednesday night, a team he managed for more than three years and over 160 games, and Newcastle are seen as favourites to win at 10/11 with bookmakers.

The Hammers are looking rejuvenated under Avram Grant and they have pulled themselves off the bottom of the table as they are unbeaten in four games and have taken seven points from a possible nine over the Christmas and New Year period.

Grant's job was thought to be on a knife-edge but he has managed to turn things around, including getting the Hammers' first away-win for 16 months when they beat Fulham on Boxing Day. It is 12 years since West Ham last won at St James' Park and the manager has to contend with a huge injury list as he prepares for a game they are 7/2 to win, with a draw priced 13/5.

Collison, Edgar, Kurucz, Da Costa, Dyer, Hitzlsperger, Ilunga and McCarthy are all still missing, while Valon Behrami and Lars Jacobsen are both doubtful for the game through hip and heel problems respectively.

The biggest loss for Newcastle is undoubtedly leading scorer Andy Carroll, who remains out with a thigh injury. It is likely that Shola Ameobi will deputise for the England man, while Peter Lovenkrands, who is 7/1 to score first while Ameobi is 11/2, will also offer Pardew's side an attacking threat.

Sol Campell remains out along with long-term injury victims Hatem Ben Arfa, Dan Gosling and Ryan Taylor for the home side, whose supporters will be hoping St James' Park can become more of a fortress in 2011 as Newcastle have only won two of their nine league games in front of their own fans.

The bottom of the Premier League is so tightly congested at this point in time that West Ham could leap five places to 13th if they keep their mini-revival going with a victory on Wednesday night. Newcastle will want to get more points on the board against their struggling rivals to ensure they do not get sucked into a relegation battle over the second half of the season.