PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND-UP:NEWCASTLE MANAGER Alan Pardew has applauded Brendan Rodgers's performance at Swansea and called for more home-grown managers in the Premier League.
Pardew worked alongside the Swansea boss during his time in charge at Reading, where Rodgers was youth team coach.
“Brendan was my youth team coach at Reading and I know him very, very well,” Pardew said. “He’s always had a very clear vision of how the game should be played . . . I admire him very much for that.”
Pardew is unlikely to make many changes for Friday’s fixture with Swansea at the Liberty Stadium following his side’s 2-0 win over Liverpool last Sunday.
Defender James Tavernier could be in contention after he was recalled from League One side MK Dons in a bid to bolster the defence in the absence of Fabricio Coloccini (hamstring) and Steven Taylor (achilles).
Midfielder Danny Guthrie (calf) is a doubt, with Peter Lovenkrands (thigh), Leon Best, Sammy Ameobi (both knee) and Sylvain Marveaux (groin) are still injured.
Swansea’s Nathan Dyer and defender Steven Caulker are in contention for a return.
Kemy Agustien has already been ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing ankle surgery.
TODAY’S FIXTURES
English Premier League – Swansea v Newcastle (4.30).
Championship: Barnsley v West Ham (5.15) Burnley v Brighton (3.0) Reading v Leeds (2.0) Watford v Blackpool (3.0) .
League One:Colchester v Hartlepool (3.0) Leyton Orient v Notts County (3.0) Scunthorpe v Exeter (3.0) Tranmere v Stevenage (3.0) Wycombe v Carlisle (300)
Two: AFC Wimbledon v Rotherham (3.0) Aldershot v Port Vale (3.0) Bradford v Southend (3.0) Bristol Rovers v Gillingham (3.0) Cheltenham v Barnet (3.0) Crawley Town v Crewe (3.0) Dag Red v Burton Albion (3.0) Hereford v Plymouth (3.0) Macclesfield v Shrewsbury Morecambe v Swindon (3.0) Northampton v Oxford Utd Torquay v Accrington Stanley (3.0)
