Fulham vs Newcastle preview - Duo missing for Fulham

Posted Saturday, January 21, 2012 by PA

Mousa Dembele and Orlando Sa will miss Fulham's Barclays Premier League clash with Newcastle.

Martin Jol hopes to have the attackers back next week, although they miss out this time with hip and hamstring complaints respectively.

Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer (spine) is still two weeks away from a first-team return, while Zdenek Grygera (knee) is out for the season.

Jol expects a much-improved performance.

"We have a good home record but that means nothing," he said. "After the game, we can only be happy or gutted about the result.

"We are optimistic as I think we have done well over the past two months.

"I think everybody has been a bit surprised with how well they done this season, especially with those players like Cheick Tiote and Demba Ba, who is probably the most productive players at the moment.

"They are not there at the moment [due to African Nations Cup duty] and of course they have to use their qualities to get results."

Newcastle boss Alan Pardew will make a late decision on midfielder Yohan Cabaye.

The Frenchman left the pitch on a stretcher with an ankle injury after being caught by QPR midfielder Shaun Derry last weekend, and remains a doubt.

Striker Peter Lovenkrands (calf) has returned to training, but central defender Steven Taylor (Achilles) and midfielders Sylvain Marveaux (groin) and Sammy Ameobi (knee) remain on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Cheick Tiote, Demba Ba and new signing Papiss Demba Cisse are on African Nations Cup duty.

Guthrie - Magpies can continue flying high

Midfielder Danny Guthrie sees no reason why Newcastle cannot continue to ruffle the feathers of the Barclays Premier League's big boys.

The Magpies head for Craven Cottage having eased themselves back into the top six as a result of last Saturday's 1-0 win over QPR, splitting Arsenal and Liverpool in the process.

Few onlookers expected Alan Pardew's side to maintain their fine start to the campaign and, although they did encounter an extended period of turbulence as 2011 drew to a close, they have won four of their last five games in all competitions to rekindle hopes that they can make an unlikely bid for a top-six finish.

Asked if they can sustain their drive, Guthrie said: "We are there now, so... We just look at it like that.

"We want to get to 40 points and then start looking up then, take each game as it comes.

"We will be in February soon and still sixth, hopefully."