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Newcastle United play West Ham United at Upton Park in London today in a bid to put relegation talk to rest once and for all. Storylines and #narratives abound, as former Toon men Andy Carroll, Kevin Nolan, and Sam Allardyce will no doubt be motivated to put Newcastle in their place after each was let go under contentious circumstances. Meanwhile, Hatem Ben Arfa and the rest of the French Legion have had to contend with some yellow journalism this week. Luckily, Fabricio Coloccini will return after a 12 match absence while his back healed, so there will be somebody on the pitch who understand what it takes to win and stay up in the top flight (because there is only one league in France).
Oh, and Wigan play at West Brom today, too.
NUFC: Elliot | Simpson, S Taylor, Coloccini, Yanga-Mbiwa | Tiote, Cabaye, Jonas | Ben Arfa, Cisse, Gouffran
Subs: Harper, Williamson, Perch, Gosling, Anita, Campbell, Shola
WHUFC: Jaaskelainen | Demel, Reid, Collins, O'Brien | O'Neil, Diame, Nolan | Vaz Te, Carroll, Jarvis
Subs: C.Cole, Collison, Henderson, Taylor, Noble, Pogatetz, J.Cole