Newcastle United and Everton need to regain that winning habit

Newcastle United could move into the top six if they complete the double over Everton at St James Park and propel themselves into contention for the Europa League in their first season back in the top flight.

A thunderbolt from Hatem Ben Arfa gave Newcastle all three points at Goodison Park back in September and now boss Alan Pardew will motivate his players to step up on Saturday against an Everton team that have been indifferent in recent weeks.

The Toffees beat Chelsea in the FA Cup and then followed that up by losing to Championship side Reading, with that result coming only weeks after David Moyes criticised his side for their woeful display against Bolton.

Newcastle on the other hand have become the draw specialists of the Premier League. They have lost only one of their last eight games in the league, but five of the other seven have ended in a stalemate and there is a real need for Pardew's side to rediscover their winning habit, and they are 13/8 with bookmakers to beat Everton.

The Magpies have not won at St James Park since beating West Ham 5-0 two months ago and should be boosted by the return of forward Shola Ameobi. The striker has missed the last month with a fractured cheekbone but he should return wearing a protective mask to boost the forward line, and is 15/2 to open the scoring.

Joey Barton is struggling to recover from a thigh strain and it had been thought the on-loan midfielder Stephen Ireland would replace him, although the Villa man has picked up a thigh injury of his own in training and may miss out. Danny Guthrie, another in line to replace Barton if he fails to recover, has a hamstring problem and faces a race against time to be ready.

Ryan Taylor is suspended after picking up a red card against Bolton last time out and Ben Arfa and Alan Smith both remain on the sidelines for the foreseeable future.

Everton have been massively hit by injuries and that could blight their efforts to win on Tyneside for the first time since 2000. They are 19/10 to get that much-awaited win while a draw is priced at 12/5.

Key midfielders Tim Cahill and Marouane Fellaini have both been ruled out and will the absence of that duo will be a massive blow to Moyes and his side.

The attacking duo of Jermaine Beckford (15/2 to open the scoring) and Victor Anichebe are pushing for recalls into the side, while Moyes could bring John Heitinga back in the starting line-up.

With both sides struggling for any kind of consistency this season it is hard to predict what could happen at St James Park, but with Everton in 11th place only five points off the relegation places both sides know they need points to ensure they do not get dragged into a battle for safety over the coming months.