Manchester CIty just taking charge in midfield and trying to slow this one down after that flurry of Newcastle crosses into the danger area. Jesus Navas is now offside. I will try and complete an entry without mentioning Navas. Honest. 

Jesus Navas gives away a needless free-kick and a City attack breaks down. Sergio Aguero - chasing that 100th Premier League goal - has hardly had a touch so far.

Image source, AFP

Alan Shearer
BBC Radio 5 live at St James' Park

"Magnificent play from Andros Townsend. He's been one of the plus points in these last couple of weeks. It's a decent start from Newcastle."

Keep it simple, keep it solid. Newcastle spin the ball out wide, Andros Townsend takes one touch and then delivers a good cross which Papiss Cisse flicks over the top with a strong header!

Ayoze Perez then sends in a good cross from the left which needs clearing. Good spell from the hosts...

Alan Shearer
BBC Radio 5 live at St James' Park

"It's very important that these Newcastle players show the crowd that they're up for the battle because they're going to need this crowd behind them if they're going to get anything from this game. I'd take a point now, I don't think that would be a bad result."

Image source, Reuters

Vincent Kompany has already seen plenty of the ball at the back for City, in nice throwback solid black boots too.

City then sweep up field, Kevin de Bruyne into Jesus Navas - nice! - but Navas takes a poor touch and then hits the first defender.

Poor. Predictably. 

There's the first sign of the Man City counter attack as Sergio Aguero sweeps it out to Kevin de Bruyne on the left wing and he burns away up the pitch. He's so quick, but he doesn't look it, if that makes any sense. Not sure it does.

Anyway the Belgian whips in a cross toward Aguero but it's well cut out. 

Image source, Reuters

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Game on.

Image source, Getty Images

Alan Shearer
BBC Radio 5 live at St James' Park

"Newcastle can certainly hope and they can hope because of Saturday's result. They were together, showed a little bit of spirit. They'll have their work cut out, but that win over Swansea has given the crowd hope. The fans play a part in the success and the demise. They demand a good start and if they don't you can hear the moans and the groans."

Image source, Getty Images

"Start bright boys! Bright bright! On the front foot, all of us!"

I love listening to Joe Hart in the tunnel. He's top class. Here come the players, a few wearing gloves to the no doubt disdain of many of you out there...

Newcastle: Darlow, Anita, Mbemba, Lascelles, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Townsend, Sissoko, Perez, Cisse. Subs: Wijnaldum, De Jong, Shelvey, Aarons, Saivet, Woodman, Mitrovic.

Man City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Mangala, Kolarov, Fernando, Delph, Jesus Navas, Toure, De Bruyne, Aguero. Subs: Sterling, Caballero, Bony, Fernandinho, Demichelis, Otamendi, Iheanacho.

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)

Alan Shearer
BBC Radio 5 live at St James' Park

"Manchester City put in a very good performance over the weekend against a weak Chelsea. Kevin De Bruyne has made a difference. He's improved massively since he was last here in the Premier League. Newcastle will struggle to cope with Sergio Aguero tonight. If they can keep him quiet they'll have a decent chance." 

Image source, Reuters

Jesus Navas to stay under Pep Guardiola? I'll be astounded. Well, mildly surprised. 

Newcastle United

Rafael Benitez: "You try to bring the best from your squad, I am really pleased with the 14 players who played the other day but fresh legs always help.

"Moussa Sissoko is captain, he has more responsibility now and I am pleased with him. We have more belief after the weekend and this is a massive game."

Kyle: No idea who Newcastle will sign. However I'm confident with Benitez in charge that if we stay up we will be top 8.

Connor Robson: Hope to see Mitrovic stay if Newcastle go down. A spark from an otherwise damp match of a season...

Alan Shearer
BBC Radio 5 live at St James' Park

"The reason I'd say Sunderland have the edge is because they have Jermain Defoe. For the last five to six weeks they've shown a togetherness, an ability to scrap. That would worry me being a Newcastle fan. 

"I'd be confident of being able to overhaul Norwich but I'll be worried about Sunderland because of Sam Allardyce, and Jermain Defoe's ability to score goals."

Image source, Reuters

Manchester City

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini: "It is very important [to have Vincent Kompany back]. Important for the team because he is the captain. 

"We need to play two more games before the semi-final of the Champions League and the best way to arrive into that is to be playing well. We did so against Chelsea.

"When you have all of your best players playing together it improves the performance. For the moment, we have won the Capital One Cup, are in the top four and are in the Champions League so it is not a bad season. 

"Teams fighting relegation are the most difficult to play at this stage of the season because they know they have to work for everything. All the teams want to stay in the Premier League."