Preview: Hull City vs. Newcastle United

Newcastle United will continue to be under the guidance of John Carver when they travel to Hull City in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

It was confirmed this week that the 50-year-old would remain in charge for the remainder of the season, despite failing to win any of his games as caretaker manager.

Three defeats and a draw leave the Magpies 11th in the table and out of both domestic cup competitions, but Carver has insisted that there is still plenty to play for.

The long-serving St James' Park number two is demanding that his players do not simply let their season 'peter away' as they strive for a top-half finish.

Steve Bruce, who was linked with the Newcastle vacancy following the sacking of Alan Pardew, would perhaps settle for 17th come May as his Hull team currently occupy the final place in the relegation zone.

The Tigers have lost each of their last three matches without scoring and finding the net remains a major concern for Bruce, with his most senior forwards Nikica Jelavic and Abel Hernandez still weeks away from fitness.

Solutions have yet to arrive in the transfer market despite links to Blackburn Rovers pair Jordan Rhodes and Rudy Gestede, and Hull now have only a few days left to take action as Monday's deadline approaches.

Sone Aluko is likely to be given the task of leading the line again at the KC Stadium, with Gaston Ramirez playing in behind in a lineup showing three changes from the one that was beaten 3-0 by West Ham United a fortnight ago.

At least two alterations will be enforced on Bruce, with his son Alex and James Chester joining an injury room which already included the likes of Robert Snodgrass, Mohamed Diame, Andrew Robertson and Liam Rosenior.

Newcastle too have a lengthy absentee list, although the worst of their problems seem to be behind them and even Siem de Jong is nearing a return from a five-month layoff after playing in the reserves in midweek.

Gabriel Obertan, Rolando Aarons, Steven Taylor and Ryan Taylor remain sidelined, but Paul Dummett is expected to shake off a knock to take his place in an unchanged team from the one which lost 2-1 to Southampton.

Following Senegal's elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations, Papiss Cisse should be back on English soil in time to be named on the bench, but Cheick Tiote is still with the Ivory Coast and so Vurnon Anita will deputise in midfield.

There have been 14 goals in the last three meetings between these two sides, including four in a 2-2 draw earlier this season, in which Cisse came off the bench to bag a brace and rescue Pardew's Newcastle a point.

Hull:

Form in Premier League: LWLWLL Form in all competitions: WLWLLL

Possible starting lineup: McGregor; Elmohamady, Dawson, Davies, Figueroa; Quinn, Huddlestone, Livermore, Brady; Ramirez, Aluko

Newcastle:

Form in Premier League: LLWDLL Form in all competitions: LWDLLL

Possible starting lineup: Krul; Janmaat, Coloccini, Dummett, Haidara; Colback, Anita; Sissoko, Cabella, Gouffran; Perez

Sports Mole says: 1-2