Martin O’Neill brings his under-stocked Aston Villa side to St. James’ Park tomorrow as the claret-and-blues look for their first victory of the 2007/2008 season after their narrow 2-1 reverse to Liverpool on opening day. Waiting for them at Gallowgate are the rejuvenated Newcastle United and 50,000 baying Geordies, intent on starting of the Ashley/Mort/Allardyce “era” with a bang, with 4,000 black and white streamers for the East Stand’s occupants and a brand-new “giant flag” to pass around, apparently…

After the tumultuous and unbelievable 3-1 victory at the Reebok Stadium last week our charges are back on more familiar turf looking to continue the most rip-roaring start to the campaign that we’ve seen on Tyneside for 5 years, since a Lomana Lua Lua brace helped batter West Ham 4-0 in our first game of that particular season.

It has been all-change in NE1 this summer, but hopefully one thing from last season will remain – a victory in our first home game of the campaign. There is no doubt that the organised and exciting Villans will provide sterner competition than Wigan did last season, but we’re riding on the crest of the wave at the moment and the odds are apparently stacked heavily in our favour.

While our opposition fans clamour for new signings after the arrivals of Nigel Reo-Coker and Marlon Harewood from West Ham and the loan deal for Scott Carson of Liverpool, Sam Allardyce has reinforced our squad to the point where we have two at least adequate players competing for every position, with apparently more to follow. Good times to be a Newcastle fan, most definitely.

With the exit of Kieron Dyer to West Ham this week – finally – it’s fitting that this particular opposition land on Tyneside as we embark on our future path without the little speed-merchant we’ve had in our colours for eight years. The number “8” shirt now hangs nameless in the home dressing room and memories of that most unfortunate bout of handbags between two of our own against this lot can finally be put to rest.

What better way than with a solid performance and a resounding result tomorrow?

(Remember to get up there a bit earlier to allow for the new season tickets to have some potential teething troubles and because of the chaos on the road system at the minute in the heart of the city.)

» Team News

Newcastle United

Squad: Steve Harper, Fraser Forster, Stephen Carr, Peter Ramage, Steven Taylor, David Rozehnal, Claudio Caçapa, Charles N’Zogbia, Jose Enrique, Nolberto Solano, Geremi, Nicky Butt, Alan Smith, Emre, Matty Pattison, James Milner, Obafemi Martins, Shola Ameobi, Michael Owen and Mark Viduka.

Injuries: We still find ourselves without Joey Barton, who won’t be back for another three or four weeks just yet and Shay Given, most notably, for whom Allardyce isn’t giving a return date and is seeking a replacement on either a loan deal or a permanent transfer. Emre is back in full training but won’t be fit enough to play any part, while Enrique is not quite fully up to speed to be thrown in at the deep end just yet. Damien Duff is, of course, out until November and Celestine Babayaro is apparently fit and training again, but for how long?

Suspensions: There are no suspensions and only Geremi has been booked so far.

Aston Villa

Squad: Scott Carson, Stuart Taylor, Craig Gardner, Gary Cahill, Olof Mellberg, Martin Laursen, Isaiah Osbourne, Wilfred Bouma, Gareth Barry, Stiliyan Petrov, Nigel Reo-Coker, Ashley Young, Shaun Maloney, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Luke Moore, Marlon Harewood and John Carew.

Injuries: Stuart Taylor, who played in goal for Villa last week against Liverpool, is struggling with a calf injury and will be replaced by Scott Carson, with Sorensen out for another couple of weeks or more. Patrik Berger is injured again, but should be back a little sooner than his Danish team-mate

Suspensions: There are no suspensions, but Barry, Bouma, Mellberg and Petrov have already been yellow-carded this season. Interestingly, the number of bookings are exactly the same as when we played Villa (a) on the 27th August last season (1 for us, 4 for them).

» Pre-Match Views

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce:

On the importance of keeping our feet on the ground…

“”I hope we don’t waste our excellent start

“It’s only one game and I’ve told the lads not to get carried away.

“Everyone will be coming to St.James’ Park expecting us to win but unfortunately that’s not how it works.

“We have to be professional and we are fully aware of what Aston Villa have to offer.

“We have to nullify their strengths and expose their weaknesses, like we did so well at Bolton last week.”

On Jose Enrique…

“Jose is improving but he is still a way off.

“He’s fit but he has not done a pre-season programme to give him the physical strength to play in the Premiership.

“So until he is absolutely 100% in that category, and bearing in mind he has come from a different environment in Spain, I’ll take it slowly but surely with him to make sure nobody levels any sort of criticism at him too early on if he doesn’t perform to the level we know he can.”

On Michael Owen…

“It’s safe to say that we will bring Michael into the squad after his two appearances this week.

“But he’s still lacking match practice. He’s fit from the injury, but we wouldn’t say he’s 100% match fit.

“That’s the reason for organising the two games for him to catch up.

“Michael’s relieved to have come through the two games with no reaction and it’s good news for me and for everyone at the club.

“Michael Owen is Michael Owen, he’s a goalscorer.”

Newcastle captain Geremi:

On the crowd being the “12th man”…

“We saw the fans at Hull and thought wow!

“It was a pre-season friendly a long way from Newcastle and they had made the effort to come and support us - it was unbelievable.

“And then again at Bolton last week the support was fantastic, they are special fans and will be the 12th man for us this season.

“It is nice to know that when you play at home the fans are with you and it will be a special atmosphere against Aston Villa on Saturday because it is our first game at St.James’ Park.”

On being appointed club captain…

“I was not expected to be made captain and when the manager gave me the armband in pre-season I thought it was just a test and it wasn’t going to be permanent.

“But two days before the kick-off last week he called me in to see if I had the capability to be captain and I said it would not be a problem.

“I am under pressure because it is 50 years since a Newcastle captain lifted a major trophy. But I think we will challenge this season and cause a few surprises.”

Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill:

On last season’s 3-1 defeat at St. James’…

“It was Ashley Young and John Carew’s debuts. We battered them for 70 minutes and had a good goal disallowed at 2-1 down as John was fouled but the free-kick was given against him.

“We came away that night wondering how we hadn’t got at least a point. But that’s football and you just have to get on with it.

On Villa’s good away form…

“Going into this game, we can take some heart from the away run at the end of last season (three wins and two draws). We’re capable of going away from home and not having that fear factor. But it’s a different season and we all start again.

“I suppose after the big results at Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough, you could see the players playing with a lot more freedom, expressing themselves and fighting back in matches away from home. We came from behind at Blackburn, Middlesbrough and Bolton.”

On their start to the campaign…

“It’s a difficult start to the season for us. We have some really, really tough games. But we go to Newcastle still with plenty of confidence. I’m looking forward to it and I don’t see why we can’t go up there and get a result.

“I really do think there are goals in the side. It’s easy me saying that, we have to go and do something about it. But there are goals in us now.

On Newcastle United this season…

“This is a big game for them as well. They’ll be cock-a-hoop after a good win at Bolton and the expectation now is pretty high.

“But they have the squad capable of doing it. They have been one of the biggest spenders over the last couple of seasons - really big spenders. They pay big wages as well, so the crowd’s expectations are now justified.

“Martins is a handful, there’s no doubt about it. They’ve got Michael Owen back, they’ve got Viduka and Alan Smith - they’ve got a few to choose from.”

Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker:

On the importance of silencing our fans…

“I’m a firm believer in really stamping your authority on the game from the very start, regardless of whether you’re at home or away.

“Have your game plan, stick to it, play at a high tempo and really make life difficult for the opposition.

“You have to really compete and I think that’s one of the most important things in football - you’ve got to be a competitor. If you really work hard and make it difficult for your opponent, you should get your return.

“We have to go into this game at Newcastle with a willingness to work hard. If we work hard and stick to our game plan, we will hopefully get the chance to show what we can do.

“There should be a big crowd and a great atmosphere tomorrow - there always is at Newcastle - and we’re looking forward to it.

» Predicted Lineups

Harper

Carr Taylor Rozehnal N’Zogbia

Geremi Butt Smith

Martins Milner

Viduka

.vs.

Carew

Agbonlahor Young

Barry Reo-Coker Petrov

Bouma Laursen Mellberg Gardner

Carson

» Head2Head

In the League:

Played: 138
Newcastle Wins: 61
Draws: 29
Villa Wins: 48

At St. James’ Park:

Played: 69
Newcastle Wins: 43
Draws: 12
Villa Wins: 14

» Prediction

I’m not arrogant enough just yet to predict a walkover here because Aston Villa are a very organised side with a solid and inventive midfield, frightening pace and power up front and a solid defence backing all of that up. Martin O’Neill’s teams are always well-drilled, but this particular outfit have potentially searing pace out wide to try and hit us on the break which could cause the pedestrian Stephen Carr, in particular, some problems.

I think it’s going to be a tight, but exciting, affair and I’m going to plump for a narrow 2-1 victory, courtesy of a dodgy penalty or some other lovely slice of fortune. That could be the difference here.

Howay the lads!