Newcastle vs West Bromwich(WBA) - Midfield duo missing for Magpies

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez will be without midfielders Christian Atsu and Mikel Merino for Saturday’s Premier League clash with West Brom.

Atsu missed Monday night’s trip to Everton with a knee problem and Merino has joined him on the sidelines with a similar, but minor, injury.

Striker Islam Slimani made his first start for the club at Goodison Park and will hope for a further chance to impress.

On-loan Daniel Sturridge could make his first start since February as West Brom try to delay a seemingly inevitable relegation at St James’ Park.

The forward returned as a substitute against Manchester United this month, following a hamstring injury, although he was ineligible to face parent club
Liverpool last week.

Nacer Chadli (hip) is fit, but while James Morrison (Achilles) has returned to training, he is unlikely to feature for the rest of the season, with the Baggies
needing to win on Tyneside to keep their slim survival hopes alive.