TEAM NEWS

West Brom striker Nicolas Anelka could figure despite a Football Association investigation into his goal celebration in Saturday's 3-3 draw with West Ham.

Fellow striker Shane Long is back in contention after a calf strain while winger Chris Brunt may feature after overcoming a back injury.

However, forward Victor Anichebe is doubtful with a groin problem.

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has no new injury or suspension worries following Sunday's defeat by Arsenal.

MATCH PREVIEW

Frankly it's impossible to sit down and write this preview without reference to Nicolas Anelka's at best ill-judged "quenelle" goal celebration at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday.

That 3-3 draw was one of the games of the season, but it has been completely overshadowed by the controversy over Anelka's actions - just as this New Year's Day fixture with Newcastle will be.

Regardless of whether Anelka plays - and let's not forget, he has not yet been suspended by either the authorities or his club - interest in this game has suddenly been ratcheted up.

I expect French news journalists to rival us sporting hacks and commentators in terms of numbers in the press room.

For Albion, the distracting furore could hardly have come at a worse time - 2013 has been a stinker for the Throstles.

When you look at the points-per-game table across the calendar year, only Sunderland's 0.84 was lower than West Brom's 0.92. With that in mind, perhaps the dismissal of Steve Clarke didn't quite come out of the vacuum that it first appeared.

We're still none the wiser as to who'll be replacing Clarke. The pursuit of Pepe Mel appears to have reached its conclusion, and still the Baggies fans wait to see who'll be at the helm for the second half of the season.

Newcastle, after last season's Europa League-induced slump, are looking an impressive proposition once again. Yes, Stoke had two players sent off on Boxing Day, but Alan Pardew's men could easily have taken further points from Sunday's game with Arsenal too.

For a club which at times can be a self-contained soap opera, these are relatively calm times. Of course there'll be the predictable January speculation about Yohan Cabaye's future, but there's no doubt Newcastle are well worth their lofty position - only four points off the Champions League places.

Perhaps the Gallic scribes present at the Hawthorns won't be using their ink on Anelka after all, but reporting once again on the excellence of Newcastle's cross-channel contingent. Loic Remy, Yoan Gouffran and Cabaye contributed four of their five goals in the pummelling of the Potters.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Newcastle have won three of the past four against West Brom in the Premier League.
• West Brom have won 46 of the meetings between the two clubs in all competitions, as opposed to Newcastle's 45 victories.

West Brom

• West Brom are on a run of nine Premier League games without a victory (D5, L4).
• Caretaker boss Keith Downing has drawn all three of his games in charge of West Brom.
• The Baggies have conceded the first goal in 12 of their 19 league games this term, losing seven of those matches and drawing five times.
• West Brom have kept four clean sheets, which is the second-lowest tally in the division.
• Two of the seven players to have collected six top-flight bookings play for West Brom - Jonas Olsson and Youssouf Mulumbu.
• Nicolas Anelka has scored six times against Newcastle in the Premier League.

Newcastle United

• Newcastle have more away wins (five) than four of the top five clubs - Manchester City, Chelsea, Everton and Liverpool.
• Alan Pardew's side have scored the first goal in 12 of 19 league games - going on to win nine of those matches.
• France midfielder Yohan Cabaye has scored in Newcastle's past two away games.
• Seven of Newcastle's 10 league wins have been by a single-goal margin.
• Papiss Cisse has scored three goals in four Premier League games against West Brom.