With eight games to go before the end of the season, just how far can the club push on? Can Newcastle reach for a Europa cup place or are they destined for a mid table position at the end of May?

There are no easy games in English Premiership Football these days and Newcastle United certainly have a tricky run in to the end of the season. March has been a disjointed month and like many clubs, Newcastle will have their fixture calendar decimated by FA Cup ties and Euro 2012 qualifiers.

Their remaining March fixture sees Pardew`s men travel to Stoke City who are flying high after reaching the FA Cup semi final. Stoke are an unpredictable side and may have Wembley on their minds this time round. Newcastle should at least be looking for a point from this game.

After the sparse March calendar, there are only three games scheduled for April and the Magpies kick off the month by hosting Wolves. Mick McCarthy`s men have enjoyed a change in fortunes recently but with home advantage, Newcastle should prove too strong for them. A week later, United travel to Aston Villa and with premiership survival seemingly assured, Houllier`s men should be there for the taking.

April ends with a trip to Bloomfield Road to take on Ian Holloway`s Blackpool. Once again, their opponents have been inconsistent to say the least and the result of this game could depend on which Blackpool team turns up. If Charlie Adam is back in their ranks after injury, they should be a tough prospect and a point would be a good outcome.

Newcastle round off the season with four fixtures in May and these include difficult away ties at Chelsea and at Liverpool, where they may well run into their former striker Andy Carroll. Although both teams have enjoyed mixed results this season, Liverpool and Chelsea are hitting form at the right time and you feel any points from these two games would be a bonus.

United`s two home games see them take on two more relegation candidates in Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion and although these will be testing fixtures, six points from those two should be a realistic target for Alan Pardew and his side.

Much has been made of the departure of Carroll and the likely effect that it would have on Newcastle`s season. However, many argue that the reverse has happened and that this has, in fact, galvanised the rest of the team. There was no better display of Newcastle`s quality than their dramatic comeback against Arsenal that rescued a point with a 4-4 draw.

It`s not unrealistic to expect Newcastle United to achieve at least 14 points from their remaining games. Such a return would see them in Europa Cup contention and although it will be a tough battle, there are many soccer pundits offering free footy tips prepared to agree that European Football is within Newcastle`s reach.

I’m certainly not accepting anything else but a win today, and it would be a worst nightmare if we have the third successive home defeat after being lost 2-0 to Blackpool and 2-1 to Stoke City in our last two Premier League games at St James’ Park.

From our last eight meetings against Wigan, we are the much better side with only allowed them to have only 20 shots on our goal and never have any win against us at St. James’ Park.

The France international Hatem Ben Arfa will not available for Newcastle United, but it gives another chance for Wayne Routledge to prove he is good enough to play for us in the top flight.

Andy Carroll is probably will be sitting on the bench once again and Chris Hughton is likely to give another shot for Shola Ameobi as a starter alongside Nolan who plays slightly behind him.

Fabricio Coloccini will be available again after having a groin problem in the first half of Newcastle’s last game against Manchester City, while Danny Simpson and Danny Guthrie both are fit and have been participated in Newcastle’s reserves game, but I don’t think Chris Hughton will gambling to include them in any part of today’s game.

Although the Latics side are the only Premier League team who are yet to concede away from home this season and unbeaten in their last three games, but their fans have to remember that they have failed to win any of their last five visits to St James’ Park.

We can also expecting to see a hot reception from the Toon Army for Wigan’s Charles N’Zogbia, on his first return to St James’ Park after being transfered to Wigan side in 2009. N’Zogbia had a training ground punch-up with Carroll during his time with the Tyneside club.

With a bit of luck, which is rarely to be seen coming to our side for the last ten years, Kevin Keegan has the plan to securing Newcastle’s first silverware since the last time we have any in 1969.

“It is one of two chances, if we are honest,” KK said in a pre-match interview before the League Cup away match to Coventry City. “We can win the FA Cup and we can win the Carling Cup.”

Newcastle record in the League Cup was not too impressive. The last time we reach the semi-finals was back in 1976. But there’s always hope and the Toon Army has plenty of that.

Newcastle team news ahead of today’s match saw Keegan could be without Oba Martins who suffers another groin injury in the match against Bolton last Saturday. Damien Duff also have knee problem. But skipper Michael Owen is set to start after scoring match-winning goal against the Trotters.

Meanwhile, Coventry City will be without keeper Kieran Westwood who suffered a dislocated thumb during their Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bristol City.

Newcastle away record against Coventry
2000/01: 2-0 (Shearer, Gallacher)
1999/00:1-4 (Domi)
1998/99: 5-1 (Shearer 2, Dabizas, Speed, Glass)
1997/98: 2-2 (Barnes, Lee)
1996/97: 1-2 (Shearer)
1995/96:1-0 (Watson)
1994/95: 0-0
1993/94:1-2 (o.g. Atherton)

But today, more than 50,000 genuine Toon fans will cheer them up and give massive roars when they coming out from St. James’s Park tunnel, with only one mission to complete which is to beat the Trotters and get the first three points of the season.

Keegan will be hopefully to have the Magpies skipper ready to make his debut of the year after being cleared to play, but it’s look like Michael Owen will be drop in the bench. Steven Taylor who has a slight ankle problem from the OT game, also fit again to pair with Argentine Coloccini in our central defense, while Mark Viduka is still need at least two weeks away from achilles injury to make his first-team return.

Last season match against them at St. James’ saw Keegan’s first game in charge resulting only goalles draw, but the situation will completely different this season. The Lads are in the good mood to continue performing well.

And for our new boys, Coloccini, Gutierrez and Danny this is their first appearance for Toon in our homeland in a real competitive match, especially for Coloccini. Having saw the impressive 12,000 Toon Army coming to see them in training, they will feel the great-great atmosphere of a full house St. James’s Park this afternoon.

Our Premierships records against the Trotters are quite impressive, with 6 wins, 2 draws and only one defeat in 2006-2007 season. The most notable win over them is in the 1997-1998 match when Ketsbaia scores the winning goal and make a massive celebration that every real Toon fans will always remember, great player!

Newcastle United vs Bolton Wanderers – Premiership Years
2007/08: 0-0
2006/07: 1-2 (Ameobi)
2005/06: 3-1 (Solano, Shearer, Ameobi)
2004/05: 2-1 (Bowyer, Dyer)
2003/04: 0-0
2002/03: 1-0 (Jenas)
2001/02: 3-2 (Shearer 2, Bellamy)
1997/98: 2-1 (Barnes, Ketsbaia)
1995/96: 2-1 (Kitson, Beardsley)

No Baye, no other right back at the club. This state of affairs is 100% as stupid as a drunk at the wheel of a ten ton truck. What are the alternatives, I’ll tell you. A body keeping it simple, a body who cannot play the position, a body who’s confidence will be diminished! The crowd slagging the body off and no right wing axis with the person playing in front of him. No chance of changing tactics because the body won’t be able to play possession football or effectively overlap. Good organised sides will most definitely exploit this weakness.

Bassong, Taylor, Faye Capaca in the middle with one of them at full back. With second half substitutions any old combo is likely to be thrown together.

Enrique, Duff, N’Zogbia at left back and left side of midfield. Hopefully two of these three might provide something? Enrique has supposedly lost weight, I hope it’s not another Bernard scenario.

Spidergadgy, and Guthrie will play I’m sure. This will be very interesting; I’ll not be able to heap the full bucket of crapola on NUFC until I see these two with my own eyes. Hopefully the two of them will get right into it and will be able to perform with the likes of Butt and Milner and our other midfield stars.

Scoring goals, we don’t have anybody suitable to play as a forward? Whoever is picked will be mocked and abused.

PSV are going for their fifth straight win and are a class act. I’ll be curious to read if anybody is feeling anymore optomistic and less poisonous than me?