Image source, Getty Images

As I think I've made perfectly clear, Boxing Day and football go together like turkey and stuffing, sausages and bacon, and christmas pud and custard.

It got me thinking about Boxing Day football moments, and the one that always sticks in my mind for me.

It came at Wednesday's Hillsborough ground. For starters we arrived 10 minutes late and had to dump the car somewhere random, the main away section was full so we had to sit in an open over-spill corner in the rain, I had a hole in my shoe, we lost 2-0 and to cap it off Gerard Sibon scored.

So, with that in mind, I want to hear about your best and worst Boxing Day football experiences.

Get in touch #bbcefl

It's one of those chants that pretty much every club has adapted, the old reworking of Mary's Boy Child that recalls the time when they got one over their big rivals - usually on a Boxing Day.

What about tonight's two teams on this festive occasion? Well, Newcastle have only won one of their past 14 Boxing Day games. Sheffield Wednesday have won three and drawn one of the past four and haven't conceded a goal.

It'll take a big effort to keep that record up tonight, with Newcastle's form this season in mind.

He might be wearing a different kit these days but if anyone knows how to beat Newcastle United, it's Steven Fletcher.

The Scotland international never lost to the Magpies in his time as a Sunderland player, and scored twice in his five Tyne-Wear tussles.

Wednesday fans might be pinning their hopes on him tonight. He'll lead the line.

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

Newcastle United will be without one of their most creative talents for this evening's game, as key playmaker Jonjo Shelvey is suspended for five games after he opted not to appeal a guilty verdict relating to a Football Association racial abuse charge.

The independent panel found him guilty of the breach, stating that the evidence of Wolves players against him was "clear and compelling".

For the Magpies it's a big blow - the England international has seven assists and three goals in league and cup. Jack Colback is the man to replace him as mentioned previously, but it's not a like-for-like switch.

Sheffield Wednesday have made three changes to the starting line-up from the 1-0 win against Rotherham, with Ross Wallace, Barry Bannan and Fernando Forestieri coming in.

Almen Abdi and Lucas Joao drop out but are named on the bench by Carlos Carvalhal, Kieran Lee is left out altogether.

Image source, Rex Features

Newcastle United have three changes, as Rafael Benitez brings in Vurnon Anita for DeAndre Yedlin, Yoan Gouffran for Christian Atsu and Jack Colback replaces Jonjo Shelvey.

Image source, Rex Features

Newcastle: Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Hayden, Colback, Gouffran, Diame, Gayle

Subs: Lazaar, Perez, Mbemba, Yedlin, Sels, Atsu, Mitrovic

Sheff Wed: Westwood, Palmer, Lees, Loovens, Pudil, Wallace, Hutchinson, Bannan, Reach, Fletcher, Forestieri.

Subs: Wildsmith, Jones, Abdi, Lucas Joao, Hunt, Sasso, Nuhiu.

Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire)

Image source, Getty Images

It's a rare sighting of the Magpies and the Owls at St James' Park tonight, in fact only the third time in 17 years the teams have met at the famous old ground in the league.

The last time Wednesday visited Newcastle for a league game was in 2009, when Shola Ameobi scored the winner. The corresponding fixture that season finished 2-2.

Wednesday were 1-0 winners on Tyneside in last year's League Cup, with Lewis McGugan - a former teammate of Jamaal Lascelles and Karl Darlow - scoring the goal.

Welcome, then, to the final game of a busy Monday of football.

I trust you've all had a fine Christmas?

We're focusing on Newcastle against Sheffield Wednesday tonight, at St James' Park.

Let's have a look at the teams and how things could pan out tonight...

Image source, Rex Features

If Christmas Day is a time for giving as Cliff Richard opined, then Boxing Day is categorically, definitively and unequivocally for football.

It's tradition. Meeting up with pals to blow away the old cobwebs on a freezing cold terrace - and, let's face it, a chance to get away from the relatives after a day cooped-up in the house.

Quite whether tonight's night-time kick-off is a tradition fans will enjoy keeping I don't know, but at least it's a cracker between two traditionally big clubs.

So grab a leftover turkey sarnie and a tub of sweets and settle yourselves down for the entertainment.