Preview: Leicester City vs. Newcastle United

Two Premier League sides go head to head in the third round of the FA Cup this weekend as Newcastle United travel to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City.

It is unclear whether Alan Pardew will still be in charge of the side for this fixture after the club gave the manager permission to talk to Crystal Palace over their coaching vacancy.

The Magpies will be without in-form striker Papiss Cisse after he was charged by the FA with violent conduct during the team's win over Everton on Sunday, earning himself a three-match ban.

While Tim Krul should be nearing his return to action from an ankle injury, this game is likely to come a little too soon for the first-choice keeper, so Jan Alnwick will continue in goal.

With a Premier League match against Burnley just two day before this fixture, there will likely be changes to whichever lineup starts that match as Newcastle will be playing their fourth match in eight days.

Meanwhile, Leicester will be hoping to distract themselves from their league struggles with a run in the Cup.

The Foxes are bottom in the league, with just three wins so far this season, the third of which came against Hull City at the weekend.

Like Newcastle, Leicester have another match before Saturday as they travel to Liverpool to face a side that beat them 3-1 just a few weeks ago.

Nigel Pearson has indicated that Andy King is a doubt for this match, while Kasper Schmeichel is still sidelined with a broken metatarsal, and is a few weeks away from returning.

The manager has admitted that the festive schedule is likely to leave his players fatigued going into this match, which may force him to make changes.

Leicester have not made it past the third round in two of the last four seasons, while Newcastle have made it to round four just once in their last four attempts.

When these sides met earlier in the season, Newcastle clinched a 1-0 win.

Leicester:

Form in FA Cup: WLWDLL Form in all competitions: LLLLLW

Possible starting lineup: Hamer, Simpson, Wasilewski, Morgan, MAhrez, de Late, Cambiaso, James, Schlupp, Nugent, Ulloa

Newcastle:

Form in FA Cup: LLWLLL Form in all competitions: WLLLLW

Possible starting lineup: Alnwick, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummet, Tiote, Colback, Cabella, Perez, Gouffran, Ameobi

Sports Mole says: 1-2