Squad sheets: Newcastle United v Queens Park Rangers

There was a time when Mark Hughes came very close to becoming Newcastle United's manager but, instead, Kevin Keegan was chosen to replace the sacked Sam Allardyce. Four years on Alan Pardew leads the high flying Tynesiders and Hughes travels north for his first game in charge of a QPR side hovering one point above the relegation zone. While Pardew is probably delighted that Newcastle's former midfielder, and current Loftus Road captain, Joey Barton, is suspended, Hughes may be reassured to learn that Barton has urged team-mates dismayed by Neil Warnock's dismissal to "buy into" their new manager's philosophy. Louise Taylor Venue Sports Direct Arena, Sunday 1.30pm Tickets Sold out Last season n/a Referee Chris Foy This season's matches 9 Y 31, R 4, 3.89 cards per game Odds Newcastle 8-11 QPR 15-4 Draw 13-5 Newcastle Subs from Elliot, Harper, R Taylor, Vuckic, Abeid, Gosling, Obertan, Ferguson, Perch, Lovenkrands, Kadar Doubtful Lovenkrands (calf) Injured Marveaux (groin, Apr), Sammy Ameobi (knee, Aug), S Taylor (achilles, Aug) Suspended None Unavailable Ba, Tioté Form guide WLWLDL Disciplinary record Y35 R2 Leading scorer Ba 15 Queens Park Rangers Subs from Cerny, Murphy, Orr, Hall, Campbell, Perone, Connolly, Ephraim, Macheda, Andrade, Smith, Harriman Doubtful Kenny (hip) Injured Dyer (ankle, Aug), Faurlín (knee, Aug), Hulse (knee, unknown) Suspended Barton (second of three) Unavailable Taarabt, Traoré Form guide LLDLLL Disciplinary record Y28 R3 Leading scorer Helguson 7 Match pointers • Newcastle have made their best start to a top-flight season since 2002-03, when they had a total of 35 points after 20 matches • QPR have won none of their last five meetings with Sunday's hosts, drawing twice and losing three of those matches • As well as being the hosts' top scorer, Demba Ba had also provided more assists (four) than any other Newcastle player prior to leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations • The visitors have suffered more fouls (261) than any other Premier League team this season