Newcastle - Tottenham Preview: Villas-Boas set for tough assignment in opening game as Spurs boss

PROBABLE LINEUPS

NEWCASTLE Krul Simpson, S. Taylor, Coloccini, Santon Anita, Gutierrez Marveaux, Cabaye, Ba Cisse

TOTTENHAM   Friedel Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto Sandro, Huddlestone Sigurdsson, Van der Vaart, Bale Defoe

Alan Pardew's Newcastle have a string of injury doubts to contend with going into their opening game. Cheikh Tiote and Yohan Cabaye are both struggling for fitness, while Hatem Ben Arfa has already been ruled out with a knee injury. Should Tiote not be able to play then new signing Vurnon Anita could replace him in central midfield. Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse are both expected to recover from slight knocks.

Tottenham's Gareth Bale is expected to be fit for the contest, which will come as a big boost to manager Andre Villas-Boas, who will have to prepare for the game without midfielder Scott Parker, who is suffering from an Achilles problem. New signings Jan Vertonghen and Gylfi Sigurdsson could both make their debuts at Sports Direct Arena.

DID YOU KNOW?

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  Newcastle's last opening day league win came back in 2007 when goals from Obafemi Martins helped them to a 3-1 win at Bolton under then newly-appointed boss Sam Allardyce.

• The Magpies have not lost to Spurs at home in the league since 2004 when a goal from Thimothee Atouba proved to be enough to give Jacques Santini's men the win.

• The two teams last met on an opening day in 1993, when Spurs beat a newly-promoted Newcastle 1-0 at St James' Park.

• Newcastle's second biggest Premier League win was recorded against Spurs back in 1996 when they thrashed Gerry Francis' men 7-1. Their biggest win came in September 1999 when they beat Sheffield Wednesday 8-0 under new boss Bobby Robson, Alan Shearer bagged five goals.

• Tottenham's last opening day league win was back in 2009 when they defeated Liverpool 2-1 thanks to goals from Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Sebastien Bassong (pictured), who had recently signed from Newcastle.

• Spurs players Jermaine Jenas, Scott Parker and Sebastien Bassong have all enjoyed spells at Newcastle.

• Rafael van der Vaart and Jan Vertonghen and Newcastle's Vurnon Anita are all graduates of the world renowed Ajax academy.

• Spurs' 5-0 triumph over Newcastle at White Hart Lane last season was their biggest win of that campaign.

• Chris Hughton and Osvaldo Ardiles are the only two men to have managed both Newcastle and Tottenham in their careers.