Premier League preview: Newcastle v Wolverhampton

Newcastle and Wolves head into their English Premier League clash at St James’ Park on the back of contrasting runs of form.

For Alan Pardew’s Newcastle, March was a month they would rather forget with two losses from their only two fixtures, including a 4-0 mauling at the hands of Stoke at Britannia Stadium.

More troubling for Pardew is the fact his side have won just once in their past nine league games, and are 11th on the table, just four points clear of the relegation zone.

The relegation zone is where Mick McCarthy’s Wolves side have spent the bulk of the 2010-11 season, but they head into Saturday’s game on the back of their most promising form of the campaign.

Wolves are unbeaten in their past four league games and have claimed 11 out of a possible 18 points since February 5 – the day they memorably snapped Manchester United’s 29-game unbeaten streak with a gritty 2-1 win at Molineux.

For Newcastle, Pardew is sweating on the fitness of left-back Jose Enrique, after the Spaniard limped off during the drubbing at Stoke with a hamstring injury.

Striker Leon Best is a chance to return from an ankle problem, while Argentine winger Jonas Gutierrez is also under a cloud with a thigh strain. Cheik Tiote misses out through suspension.

Wolves, meanwhile, will be without Kevin Doyle after the Irish international injured knee ligaments in his country’s 2-1 win over Macedonia in Euro 2012 qualifying over the weekend.

Irish winger Stephen Hunt is a chance to resume after overcoming a calf strain, and defender Michael Mancienne is making good progress after a knee injury.