Newcastle return to St James Park and host Everton this Sunday afternoon in a 3pm kick off. The Magpies have performed quite well at home so far this season and they will be looking to carry this form on when the Toffees visit this weekend. But will they? We asked the panel their views.

Rich

“While all of the pre-match media stuff has been about the possible appearance of Michael Owen tomorrow, I’m just more bothered about the three points on offer - and I’m sure I can’t be the only one. Everton make the trip up here on the back of a gruelling 3-2 victory in Ukraine on Thursday night and should really be there for the taking. Every home game is one we should win, really, but these are the types of games where anything less than three points would be a major, major blow.

Everton are a good team, another “proper club” (seems we’ve been playing a few of those recently) and won’t roll over for us, but surely this is an ideal opportunity to stretch our winning run at home to four games on the bounce. A lot of talk in the pre-season was about making St. James’ a fortress again and we’ve done a fairly good job of that so far this season, although the real tests are yet to come. One goal conceded and six goals scored isn’t a bad return from a team that still barely knows itself.

As you can probably gather, I’m expecting nothing less than a win tomorrow against the fatigued Toffees. If they were coming up here with no midweek game prior I’d be worried, no doubt, because they’ve done okay up here in recent times - taking unexpected draws on two occasions and dumping us out of the League Cup on penalties at the Leazes’ End as well. We’ve had eight days since the Manchester City defeat to regroup and recover and more players are getting back from injury by the day.

Whether our diminutive and troublesome number ten plays or not he’ll still be the major talking point over the next week, but let’s just focus on those eleven players who do get selected on Sunday. I’m personally hoping to see Enrique and Emre making their first league starts of the campaign - at the expense of Alan Smith and Nicky Butt - but I’d be surprised to see it happen. One of the two, perhaps, but both might be asking a bit much. The team and bench should look strong and like I’ve said, I’m expecting nothing short of a resounding victory: 3-1 again to the Magpies.”

Tom

“After a bad few days last week going out of the League Cup to Arsenal and then another defeat at Man City, we’ve had plenty of time to reflect. Hopefully, the time has been spent wisely, and the players will be eager to get back to winning ways.

Things are looking up on the injury front with Cacapa likely to come back into defence alongside Rozehnal to form a partnership that has been pretty impressive so far. Michael Owen has also made a speedy recovery and could also be involved. And, while we have had eight days between games, Everton will be going into their third game in seven days, due to UEFA Cup duty. However, as we know from our own European experiences, the ‘tiredness from Europe’ isn’t always a factor - I recall just a few years ago, when we won every game following a midweek game in Europe. Everton are going well and are on a bit of a roll, so I expect another tricky game.

I feel a bit like a broken record going on about the midfield all the time, but right now this is our biggest weakness, and I don’t tink it would take too much to sort it. I’d like to see Jose Enrique at left back from the start, with N’Zogbia on the left wing and Milner down the right. Having both Butt and Geremi in central midfield is too negative and stifling. Right now I’d sacrifice Butt and have Smith playing in an attacking midfield role. Whether we do that or not is another matter of course!

I expect both teams to have their chances, but I’ll go for us to edge it, 2-1.”

Greg

“So it is back to action this Sunday with a 3pm kick off against David Moyes’ Everton who just scraped into the next phase of the UEFA Cup after a 3-2 away win against the Mentalists of Kharkiv. After a disappointing display against Man City we need to pick up 3 more points and keep up our decent home form. Cacapa is set to return to the fold, Faye, Enrique and Emre all played completed 90 minutes of reserve team football in midweek and should be available for selection and it looks like Owen may also be involved in some shape following surgery in Germany only last week. Long term injury victims still unavailable include Ameobi, Babayaro, Barton, Carr, Duff and Ramage.

Andy Johnson is still considered a doubt for Everton while Cahill and Gravesen are out. David Moyes has done a very good job at Everton and has built a very decent side, Arteta is the key man for them and on his day he can be simply brilliant.

I’d like to see a back four of Beye, Cacapa, Roz and Enrique with N’Zogbia moving into a more advanced midfield role. We need to bounce back with a win and I think we’ll have enough to beat Everton on our own patch.”

Midds

“Everton will arrive in town on Sunday a little weary after an energy-sapping round trip into the Ukraine just a few days earlier. They will have been buoyed by the victory (which has put them through to the Group stage of the UEFA Cup) but were made to work hard for it. This may become a factor as the game progresses and it would be fantastic to be able to bring a bit of pace on from the bench with about 25 minutes to go to stretch them defensively.

Everton look a very solid unit this season – uncompromising and well organised but a bit of flair in the shape of Arteta. He is the one who will be pulling the strings and one hopes that he isn’t given the time and space that Elano was last week! With Johnson struggling and Vaughan out, much of the goalscoring responsibilities will fall on the shoulders of Yakubu. He’s struggled to find any form so far but he tends to get his goals in clutches and he’s due one… McFadden is playing well too but it is Lescott who is currently amongst the goals. Set pieces will be vital as I can’t see it being a free-flowing footballing classic unfortunately. I think it’ll be a scrappy, bits-and-pieces type of game between two fairly evenly matched teams.

Owen has been included in the squad and could be the pace we need for a 25 minute blast as they inevitably tire. Cacapa is also included and Enrique simply has to start this week. N’Zogbia is a cracking player but he’s not defensively minded and looks like a fish out of water back there. Surely Enrique is fit enough to start by now? N’Zogbia could provide both balance and pace to a midfield that has looked pretty turgid to be honest. It’s crying out for a 4-4-2 with Milner on the right supplying crosses for Viduka and Martins. I think Stubbs is the man to target and Martins should put himself on his shoulder and look for any chance to use his superior pace to run onto anything played in behind the back four.

I can see this being tight all afternoon and I’ll go for a 1-1 but a lot will depend on how well Everton cope with their fatigue after a heavy schedule. We could win it with a late one perhaps. Here’s hoping.”

Join us for the panel’s reaction to Sunday afternoon’s game early next week, as they give their opinions on all things Black and White at St James Park.