Afternoon all. While the Champions League dominated our midweek coverage, the Premier League has returned this weekend. Here, we will be covering a match that often contains plenty of goals - Newcastle United vs. Manchester United at St James' Park.

Before we talk about these two sides and what a victory would mean to both of them, let's take a look at the team news, starting with the hosts...

NEWCASTLE XI: Elliot; Santon, Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara; Anita, Gosling, Tiote, Gouffran; De Jong, Cisse

NEWCASTLE SUBS: Alnwick, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Dummett, Ben Arfa, Shola Ameobi, Armstrong

With leading goalscorer Loic Remy still injured, Papiss Cisse and Luuk de Jong will form the centre-forward partnership for Newcastle. Elsewhere, Dan Gosling has been included in the midfield alongside the likes of Vurnon Anita and Yoan Gouffran. Also, Rob Elliot continues to deputise between the posts in the absence of number one goalkeeper Tim Krul.

And now for visiting Man United...

MAN UNITED XI: Lindegaard; Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Evra; Young, Mata, Fletcher, Fellaini, Kagawa; Hernandez

MAN UNITED SUBS: De Gea, Buttner, Vidic, Cleverley, Januzaj, Nani, Wilson

Unsurprisingly, there are a number of changes from United boss David Moyes, who is likely to have more than one eye on Wednesday's clash with Bayern Munich. Anders Lindegaard comes in for David de Gea in goal, while Chris Smalling, Ashley Young, Darren Fletcher and Javier Hernandez are all included. What's more, Antonio Valencia will operate at right-back, while young striker James Wilson is on the bench for the first time at the age of 18.

Of course, Wayne Rooney is not included for United because of a toe injury. Speaking about that problem, Moyes said last night: "He's got a terrible toe. Not only is it a problem for this game, it could be a problem for the Munich match. We need to monitor it. We'll get him treatment all over the weekend and see if we can speed it up."

With Rooney struggling for Wednesday night in Munich, the likes of Hernandez, Shinji Kagawa and Ashley Young all have a chance today to prove to Moyes that they should be named in the side in the Allianz Arena. All three have spent a large majority of the campaign among the substitutes, but a good performance today will do their chances of gaining further starts - beginning with the Bayern match - no harm.

As for Newcastle's players, they have a bit of history to play for today. They won in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford earlier in the season for the first time since 1972. Now, if they were to complete the double this afternoon, it would be the first time that the Magpies have recorded such results over United since 1930-31 season.

Back to United and it could potentially be a huge day for young Wilson, who has been earning rave reviews for the club's development side this season. Below is a video montage of the 18-year-old in a match against Wolverhampton Wanderers:

So, what have the two managers been saying in the days leading up to this clash? Let's begin with Newcastle boss Pardew...

"I'm not urging anything other than my players putting in a better performance [from the 4-0 defeat to Southampton]. That is the most important thing because you get disappointments in the Premier League and we've had them before. As a professional, you've got to accept you get beaten and sometimes, it's a bloody long way away and you have to accept responsibility as a group and put it right and that's what I hope to see on Saturday," he told reporters.

Meanwhile, Moyes has insisted that his focus is on this match, rather than Bayern: "The only thing we are thinking about is the Newcastle game. The focus is all on Newcastle. We have to go up there and put on a good performance and get three points, trying to build a little bit of momentum towards the end of the season. We will go there and try to do that.

"Obviously I have got other things on the mind, but the focus is Newcastle and we will try to balance things out correctly. We have got an extra day's recovery. Saturday to Wednesday is better than last week when it was Saturday to Tuesday, but the message to the players is that it is Newcastle United, this is the next game and it is the most important one."

HEAD-TO-HEAD: These two teams have met on 156 occasions, with United leading Newcastle 78-41 overall. In total, there have been 76 games between them at St James' Park, which the hosts are actually edging 31-28, with 17 draws thrown in for good measure.

LAST TIME: We've already discussed the fact that Newcastle ran out 1-0 winners at Old Trafford, but what happened when they met at St James' Park last term? It proved to be an easy afternoon for the away side, who came out 3-0 victors thanks to goals from Jonny Evans, Patrice Evra and Tom Cleverley. You can relive that encounter with our match report or watch highlights of Cleverley's strike below:

Let's get some pre-match quotes now from United defender Phil Jones, who has just been speaking to Sky Sports News: "We have to make sure we are right at it today and hopefully pick up the three points. We need to carry on from where we left off against Bayern to win this game. This is always a difficult place to come, it's always a tough test, but we are prepared and ready."

PREDICTION: Right then, with 10 minutes left until we get underway, let's have a stab at guessing the outcome of this contest. With both sides far from being at full strength, it's a hard one to call. Neither team has been great defensively this term, so hopefully we will see some goals. Looking at the lineups, if United can get enough of the ball to Hernandez inside the area, that could prove to be vital. Let's say 3-2 to the visitors, with the Mexican helping himself to a brace.

The teams are back in their dressing rooms ahead of kick-off. #NUFC #MUFC #NEWMUN https://t.co/aDECb83F2M — Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 5, 2014

As you'd expect, there is a good atmosphere inside St James' Park as the players make their way out of the tunnel and on to the pitch. Handshakes to come and then we will be off and running.

KICKOFF! Hosting Newcastle, attacking from right to left, get this Premier League fixture underway.

First venture forward from Newcastle as Gosling rises unmarked on the penalty spot, but although he gets plenty of power in his header, it drifts well wide of the target. Nevertheless, it's been a bright start from the home side.

We've seen very little from United in an attacking sense, although it appeared that Evra was going to meet Mata's corner from the right, but the defender mistimed his jump and the Newcastle rearguard were able to clear with relative ease. This game is on the back-burner still.

We've been playing 10 minutes now and neither goalkeeper has had a save to make. United look the more assured in possession, but they are struggling to get their playmakers, such as Kagawa and Mata, into the game.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Better from United as Fellaini picks out Young on the right flank. From there, the winger drives to the byline, before sending in a cross towards the near post. Hernandez makes his move, but so does Williamson and the Newcastle defender is able to poke the ball out of play. The resultant corner sees Fellaini find the net, but his effort is ruled out for handball.

Ouch! Young lands awkwardly on his hand following a challenge with Haidara and it looks like the United winger has dislocated his finger. He's gone off for treatment, so for the time being, the away side are down to 10 men.

SUBSTITUTION: That seemingly dislocated finger has in fact ended Young's afternoon. He's been replaced by youngster Adnan Januzaj.

We have now had 20 minutes of football and still both keepers wait to be called into action! What's more, we've barely had a shot off target!

SAVE! A shot on target, at last! It comes from Newcastle as Williamson rises well above Fellaini to knock the ball down for Cisse. The Senegalese striker is facing away from the target, but that doesn't stop him from producing an acrobatic effort, which forces Lindegaard to hold at the first time of asking.

SAVE! Cisse and Lindegaard continue their duel and on this occasion the United keeper really does earn his money. Santon crosses from the right and Cisse is up early to flick his header goalwards. United's stand-in stopper is alert, though, and is able to fingertip the ball over his crossbar. The resultant corner then comes to nothing, but there are signs that Newcastle are starting to dominate this contest.

What is it with Fellaini and his elbows? Under pressure from Williamson, the United midfielder inexplicably sends his arm crashing into the Newcastle defender's face. It might not have been as blatant as his recent clash with Pablo Zabaleta, but it's still not clever. Luckily for him, it wasn't spotted by referee Kevin Friend or his officials.

Kagawa has his arms spread out wide in disbelief and you can understand why. United's Japanese playmaker has just curled a teasing ball into the Newcastle area from the right wing, but only Hernandez was in the box and when it evaded him, Newcastle were able to clear easily.

Newcastle threatened to take control of this match a few minutes ago, but since then, it's been United that have dominated. Having said that, moments ago Santon skipped beyond Evra like he wasn't even there, but the full-back's cross was overhit and the ball ran out for a throw on the opposite flank.

A game this bad really doesn't deserve a moment of magic like this, that's for sure! Gosling brings down Fletcher 20 yards from goal and Friend has no hesitation in awarding a free kick. After that it's all about Mata, who bends his left footed effort over the Newcastle wall, before it bends away from Elliot on its way into the top corner. Considering how close he was to the goal, for the Spaniard to get it up and down from there, that's some effort!

2 - Juan Mata has scored in successive Premier League appearances for the first time since February 2013. Ping. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 5, 2014

POST! United go ever so close to making it 2-0 and what a goal that would have been. Kagawa and Hernandez link brilliantly to release the latter, who goes for goal from 12 yards out. There is nothing wrong with the low effort that he strikes across Elliot, but it cannons back off the post and is cleared to safety. Meanwhile, there will be two minutes of stoppage time.

A few jeers ring out around St James' Park as the referee brings an end to that half. It must be said, it was a largely unremarkable 45 minutes of football that was lit up by a moment of magic from Mata.

There was a bright spell of around 10 minutes or so for Newcastle, but apart from that, they haven't really looked that threatening. You can understand the frustration that the home support have because against a United side that have conceded a number of sloppy goals this term, they don't look particularly interested in applying pressure.

As for United, while they look the more accomplished of the two teams in possession, they also haven't been great. The difference is, they lead and that's why you spend £37m on players of Mata's quality. He's now scored two in two games for United. Another plus point for Moyes is the fact that both his club-record signing and Kagawa started to see much more of the ball in the closing stages of that half. In turn, Hernandez was also more involved - highlighted by his strike that unluckily hit the upright.

So, what can Newcastle do to alter the game in their favour? He may be inconsistent, but Pardew could do a lot worse than introducing Hatem Ben Arfa into the action. The Frenchman is unpredictable and that is the sort of thing that Newcastle require because so far, it's been easy for United defensively.

Another stat from that Mata goal:

36 - Juan Mata's goal was the 36th scored from a direct free kick this season in the PL; the most in a PL campaign since 2007-08 (41). Arrow

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 5, 2014

Another stat from that Mata goal:

36 - Juan Mata's goal was the 36th scored from a direct free kick this season in the PL; the most in a PL campaign since 2007-08 (41). Arrow

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 5, 2014

RESTART! Here we go then. Visiting United, who lead 1-0, get the second half at St James' Park underway.

Another lovely goal from Mata, although this one is all about the awareness of Hernandez. Kagawa nods the ball into the path of the Mexican and with the angle against him, he squares the ball across the face of goal for Mata. Coloccini anticipates the shot and slides in, but Mata sidesteps him and then calmly rolls the ball beyond the reach of a static Elliot. Moments later, Tiote goes into the book for a foul on Hernandez.

2 - Juan Mata has scored two goals in single a Premier League game for the first time since October 2012. Brace.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 5, 2014

There is still no movement on the Newcastle bench, which is a bit strange it must be said. The home fans are becoming rather restless and some are even leaving!

CHANCE! More great football involving United's attacking trio as Mata beats two Newcastle players before picking out Kagawa out wide on the right. He in turn crosses for Hernandez, who goes for a first time shot. There is plenty of power on the effort, but it's always rising and ends up flying over the bar.

SUBSTITUTION: At last Ben Arfa comes on for Newcastle - he has replaced De Jong, who still hasn't scored for the Magpies.

SUBSTITUTION: A change with Wednesday in mind? United captain and full-back Evra comes off and has been replaced Alexander Butter.

This is becoming far too easy for United now as more Newcastle fans stream out. Januzaj, who has been quiet since coming on, slots a pass through inside the area for Kagawa. From there, the Japanese international shows good awareness to cut a pass back for Hernandez and the Unites striker finishes those sort of chances from six yards in his sleep! United really are running away with this.

SUBSTITUTION: Another alteration for United and it's Fellaini that comes off and is replaced by Nani, which means no debut for young Wilson.

SAVE! For the first time in this half Lindegaard is called into action. Cisse, who has been largely ineffective so far today, wriggles himself free to create enough space for a powerful half-volley, but United's Danish keeper is alert to palm the ball over the crossbar.

This has become a bit of a training match, with United passing the ball around the pitch with ease, while Newcastle appear to have adopted a damage limitation approach.

Believe it or not, United actually have the best away record in the entire Premier League - this will be their 10th victory away from Old Trafford. If they could have sorted out their home form early on, they would be in contention for the title.

SAVE! Given a rare start, it seems that Lindegaard is determined to keep a clean sheet in the United goal. It looked for all the world that Cisse was going to score when he controlled the ball eight yards from goal, but his powerful strike is tipped to safety by United's deputy keeper. This will be United's fifth clean sheet away from home in a row if they hold out.

There will be four minutes of stoppage time at the end of this contest.

That could well be United's best goal today! Youngster Januzaj inherits possession the edge of the area and pokes the ball through for Mata. Having carried on his run, Mata is able to back-heal the ball back into the path of the Belgian, who the waits for Elliot to commit, before slotting the ball inside the opposite corner. That's the cherry on top of the cake as far as United are concerned.

There goes the whistle and quite frankly it has put Newcastle out of their misery. They are booed off by their supporters and it's little wonder. As for United, they should be full of confidence going into that clash with Bayern on Wednesday night.

That is all we have time for from St James' Park. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and until next time, goodbye.