Ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup action, Sportsmail will be providing you with all you need to know about every key fixture, with team news, provisional squads, betting odds and Opta stats. Here is all the information you need for Newcastle’s home clash with Luton.
Newcastle United vs Luton Town (St James’ Park)
Newcastle team news
Chancel Mbemba is out of Newcastle’s FA Cup third-round clash with League Two Luton.
Mbemba has picked up a knee problem in training and will sit out the match along with fellow defenders Florian Lejeune (foot) and Jesus Gamez (ankle).
Chancel Mbemba has been ruled out of Newcastle United’s FA Cup tie with Luton Town
Keeper Rob Elliot is still out with a thigh problem and that could represent an opportunity for Freddie Woodman, while striker Aleksandar Mitrovic continues his recovery from a back problem.
Newcastle provisional squad
Darlow, Woodman,Yedlin, Manquillo, Dummett, Haidara, Lascelles, Clark, Merino, Hayden, Shelvey, Saivet, Ritchie, Atsu, Murphy, Aarons, Diame, Perez, Joselu, Gayle.
Key match stats
(supplied by Opta)
Luton have progressed past Newcastle on both occasions they were playing in a lower division than the Magpies (1972-73 and 1993-94), losing in 1980/81 when both sides were in the second tier.
Newcastle have been eliminated by lower league opposition in five of their last six FA Cup ties, losing 3-0 to League One side Oxford United in the fourth round last season.
John Hartson (centre) celebrates scoring during Luton Town’s FA Cup fourth round replay 2-0 win over Newcastle United in 1994 – the last occasion the teams played each other
Rafael Benitez hasn’t faced a side from League Two or below in the FA Cup since January 2008, when his Liverpool side were twice behind against non-league Havant & Waterlooville before winning 5-2 at Anfield.
The Hatters last faced Premier League opposition in the FA Cup in January 2013, when they became the first non-league side to eliminate Premier League opposition, beating Norwich City at Carrow Road; this has since been emulated by Lincoln City against Burnley last season.