Ooh, nearly. Ashley Westwood tries a defence-splitting pass looking for Ashley Barnes but Fabian Schar is aware to it and just intercepts, with Barnes fouling him in the process for a free-kick.

More encouragement for Burnley though.

Why didn't he shoot??! Some great hold-up play by Andy Carroll sets up Christian Atsu inside the penalty area, but instead of shooting first time Atsu opts to do a step-over and pass back for a team-mate.

A lack of confidence perhaps?

A Dwight McNeil cross from the left is cleared by Paul Dummett but hits his arm on the way out for a corner. VAR has a quick check but says no penalty. Ashley Barnes isn't happy but it looked the correct decision to me.

James Tarkowski then rises highest from the corner but puts the ball wide - he perhaps could have done better there and he knows it. Tarkowski shakes his head as he runs back towards the halfway line.

Out of nothing, a Burnley chance! Dwight McNeil has an effort from distance that Martin Dubravka, perhaps wary of the skiddy surface, pushes away for a corner.

McNeil takes the corner himself but it comes to nothing.

Encouragement for Burnley, though.

Newcastle are growing in confidence. A decent spell of possession leads to another cross, this time from Jetro Willems, that evades everyone in the middle and goes out for a goal-kick.

Steve Bruce's side have made their intentions fairly clear already through, with Andy Carroll likely to be central to their attacking play.

The referee, Tim Robinson, is making his Premier League debut this afternoon, though he will be familiar to Newcastle fans after taking charge of their Carabao Cup defeat by Leicester earlier this season. Steve Bruce was highly critical of his decision to only book Hamza Choudhury for a foul on Matt Ritchie during that game, describing it as a “horror” challenge.

The Scotland international suffered an ankle injury as a result and has yet to feature since.

Chance! But wide! Wonderful cross from the Newcastle right finds the head of Andy Carroll, but he cannot find the target!

Steve Bruce has his head in his hands, he knows that was a big chance.

Push by Jetro Willems on Jeff Hendrick just inside the Newcastle half. Dwight McNeil takes the free-kick looking for Ashley Barnes but there is not enough on it and Newcastle clear.

Burnley are enjoying the early possession, though the ball is holding up slightly on the sodden surface. Maybe aerial is the way to go?

Here we go!

A couple of milestones for Burnley this afternoon.

There is a welcome break from the rain as the teams make their way onto the field. Not long to go now!

Image source, Getty Images

Plenty of festive fancy dress on show at Turf Moor. As well as the claret and blue Santa above, his black and white equivalent, a snowman and several elves have also been spotted.

More as we get it.

Turf Moor is certainly a throwback stadium. With its tightly packed stands and a backdrop of terrace housing as far as the eye can see.

It's also been been a dull, grey afternoon in Lancashire with heavy rain sure to provide a skiddy surface.

Old-school English football at its finest!

If you want an old-school encounter, Turf Moor is the place to be this afternoon.

Burnley (326) and Newcastle (305) have played fewer passes per game than any other Premier League side this season. While these two sides also play a higher proportion of long passes than any other side in the competition (Burnley 21.6%, Newcastle 19.7%).

It is a different story for Burnley though. The Clarets are looking to avoid a fourth successive defeat. A run that has seen them slide down the table.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Things are looking up for Newcastle. They head to Turf Moor this afternoon as one of the form teams in the Premier League and could climb as high as fifth with a win.

Here is the team news for Burnley v Newcastle.

Join us from 14:50 GMT for live coverage of the game at Turf Moor.

Burnley make three changes to the side that was thrashed 5-0 at Tottenham last weekend. Ashley Barnes, Ashley Westwood and Phil Bardsley are all fit to return. Matthew Lowton, Jay Rodriguez and Robbie Brady all drop to the bench.

Burnley XI: Pope, Cork, Tarkowski, Mee, Pieters, Bardsley Hendrick, Westwood, McNeil, Barnes, Wood.

Subs: Hart, Lowton, Drinkwater, Brady, Gibson, Rodriguez, Lennon.

Image source, BBC Sport

Andy Carroll makes just his second Premier League start of the season for Newcastle. The striker is one of four changes from last weekend's win over Southampton as injuries begin to mount for Steve Bruce's side. Ciaran Clark, Jonjo Shelvey, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron are all ruled out. Fabian Schar, Christian Atsu and Sean Longstaff come into the side

Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Dummett, Schar, Fernandez, Willems, Manquillo, Hayden, Sean Longstaff, Atsu, Joelinton, Carroll.

Subs: Elliot, Gayle, Muto, Krafth, Lejeune, Yedlin, Matthew Longstaff.

Image source, BBC Sport