Ba: Back in the mix

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Newcastle v Aston Villa

Newcastle’s top scorer Demba Ba should make his return against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.

The powerful hitman, with 15 goals this season, is back in contention after Senegal’s first round exit at the Africa Cup of Nations, co-staged in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Ba’s countryman Papiss Demba Cisse is in line to make his Magpies debut following his recent switch from German outfit Freiburg.

Midfielder Yohan Cabaye will serve the second installment of a three-match ban, while Steven Taylor (Achilles) and Sylvain Marveaux (groin) continue to struggle with their respective knocks.

The Magpies, 2-0 victors over Blackburn on Wednesday, are currently fifth in the standings with 39 points - 11 points ahead of 12th-placed Villa, who drew 2-2 with struggling QPR in midweek.

Villans boss Alex McLeish will hope influential striker Gabriel Agbonlahor can shake off his back and hamstring complaints.

Winger Marc Albrighton (thigh) and central defender James Collins are also battling for fitness, while midfielder Chris Herd remains sidelined with an ankle injury.