Newcastle v Swansea preview: John Carver's side look to avoid a seventh straight Premier League defeat

Newcastle will be desperate to get the winning feeling back when they host Swansea in the Premier League at St James' Park.

John Carver's side are in free-fall at the moment after a run of six straight defeats which saw the supporters host a demonstration before the 3-1 defeat to Tottenham last weekend.

Newcastle have struggled at home all season and are on a run of three consecutive Premier League defeats at home.

They haven’t lost four successive home games since February 2014 but there is a real danger of that happening against a Swansea side who have won four and drawn one of their last five league clashes with Newcastle.

Garry Monk's side's chances of European qualification may be over but they have their sights set on a top eight finish in the Premier League and they will be confident of victory at a venue that has been kind to them in recent seasons.

Team news

Siem de Jong will be in the Newcastle squad for the first time since August after recovering from a collapsed lung.

The Holland midfielder will be included after undergoing surgery to repair the lung and he will be joined by striker Facundo Ferreyra, who has not made the squad since November because of a back problem. Jonas Gutierrez, who was left out last weekend following a training-ground row with head coach John Carver, is also back.

Midfielder Moussa Sissoko completes his two-match ban while striker Papiss Cisse sits out the sixth instalment of his seven-game suspension. Although defender Paul Dummett (knee) and midfielder Rolando Aarons are close to returns, goalkeeper Rob Elliot will not play again this season after damaging a thigh muscle.

Jefferson Montero is pushing for a start as Swansea seek to bounce back from defeat at Leicester.

The Ecuador winger has not started since mid-February after falling victim to a new system and then a hamstring injury, but he played the last half-hour at Leicester last weekend and might benefit if manager Monk considers changes at St James' Park.

Bafetimbi Gomis remains out with a hamstring problem so loan signing Nelson Oliveira deputises up front again, while central defender Jordi Amat should fill in at full-back once more as Neil Taylor completes a two-match suspension.

Opta facts

Against no side have Newcastle played more Premier League home games without a win than they have against the Swans (3, level with Hull City).

Since John Carver took charge of Newcastle, only QPR (8) have won fewer points than the Magpies (9, level with Sunderland).

St James' Park is the only Premier League ground yet to see a penalty awarded this season.

Nathan Dyer has not scored or assisted a single Premier League goal in 15 appearances since December 2, 2014.

Swansea’s last six Premier League away games have seen them alternate between wins and defeats – if this run was to continue, they’d win this match.

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Newcastle have lost their last three Premier League games at home – they haven’t lost four successive home games since February 2014.

Merson's prediction

Newcastle are in disarray and I don’t see them winning this either. So I’m going to go for Swansea.

Near the end of the season you always get one team that comes flying down the league on a glass mountain with a pair of slippers on and Newcastle are that team at the moment. They need to win a game very quickly because teams are picking up points around them. If QPR win Saturday and then beat Newcastle at home in a couple of weeks, the gap could be just three points. And QPR are second bottom at the moment, so it just shows you how close it is.

PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 10/1)

Betting

Newcastle are considered 7/5 favourites by Sky Bet despite their woeful form, with Swansea 2/1 to heap further misery on the St James’ Park faithful, while the draw is priced at 11/5.

The Mapgies’ relegation odds shortened from 80/1 to 40/1 following last weekend’s defeat to Tottenham, and are sure to shorten considerably again if results go against them again.

The first goalscorer market is lacking a clear favourite with Ayoze Perez leading the way at 11/2 despite failing to net in 2015, while three players head the betting on Swansea’s side at 7/1 including Gylfi Sigurdsson.

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