Middlesbrough's Scott McDonald is hoping to be involved in the Tyne-Tees encounter after seeing a specialist following his recent hernia operation.Striker Jeremie Aliadiere is out with a broken foot and Willo Flood is doubtful because of a knee problem.
Newcastle duo Jose Enrique (hamstring) and Wayne Routledge (calf) could return to the Magpies squad.
But Alan Smith is likely to miss out with the ankle injury which kept him sidelined for the 6-1 rout of Barnsley.
MATCH PREVIEW
After being relegated from the Premier League last year, both these sides started the season hoping for an immediate return to the top flight.
Leaders Newcastle are well on course to achieve that, while Middlesbrough are having to play catch-up in the race for a play-off place. They have lost three of their last four matches, leaving them five points adrift of the top six.
Boss Gordon Strachan has at least managed to improve their form at the Riverside Stadium, where they struggled badly earlier in the campaign. His side have won three consecutive matches there and are unbeaten in six on their own patch.
But they are yet to record a home victory against a team in the top 10 and will face a stiff test of their promotion credentials against the high-flying Magpies, who have won their last four matches.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Newcastle are unbeaten in six league games against Middlesbrough (W2 D4), and have lost only one of the last 13 against them.
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• The Magpies, who beat Boro earlier in the campaign, last completed a league double over them six seasons ago.
Middlesbrough
• Middlesbrough have scored 17 goals from 17 home matches this season.
• They have failed to score in 14 Championship games - more than any other team.
• Boro have fielded a total of 37 players this term, which is the highest in the division.
• Striker Leroy Lita could make his 150th career league start.
Newcastle
• Of Newcastle's 21 league wins this season, 14 have been by more than one goal. And only one of their four defeats has been by more than a one-goal margin (v Derby).
• They have conceded only nine first-half goals.
• A win for the Magpies would complete their sixth league double of the campaign. They have already beaten Cardiff, Coventry, Preston, Watford and Crystal Palace both home and away.
MOST RECENT MEETING
Newcastle 2-0 Middlesbrough (20 December 2009)
Newcastle scorers: Harewood 16, Ameobi 59.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport