CHN Links: Gameday Edition

Good morning, Toon Army. Let's let this picture tell the tale of what's to come in today's post.

"Then all of a sudden [Carroll] perked up, alert, 'like a meerkat'." - Jeremy Armstrong, MirrorFootball
Photo courtesy of @ToonArmyMIA. Tumblr link

Match Previews

BBC Sport - Match facts.

Selection update: Among those expected to be unavailable are Jonas Gutierrez, Shola Ameobi, and Andy Carroll. Cheik Tiote is listed as "unlikely" and Leon Best will have to pass a fitness test if he is to play. Mike Williamson, Shane Ferguson, and Nile Ranger are expected to play, while Dan Gosling and Danny Guthrie could get a look. (Lee Ryder, The Chronicle) Also expected to miss are Steven Taylor and Steve Harper, who will be with his expectant wife this weekend. (Stuart Rayner, The Journal)

Nile Ranger says he wants to make up for his awful miss against West Ham by scoring on Stevenage today. (Lee Ryder, The Chronicle)

Lee Ryder let Stevenage boss Graham Westley draw him offside with his recent comments.

News

Jeremy Armstrong of MirrorFootball has an exclusive item about Andy Carroll. I have offered commentary in a separate post.

David Bentley, who had generated interest from Newcastle, has signed with Birmingham City on loan. (Sky Sports)

Newcastle's £1.5 million bid for Seb Larsson was indeed accepted, but Birmingham City are hoping to convince him to stay. (Sky Sports)

Three young players have left on month-long loans - Matthew Grieve has gone to Stockport County while James Tavernier and Joan Simun Edmondsson will play for Gateshead. (Scott Wilson, The Northern Echo)

Transfer Rumors

Alan Pardew has reported interest in 21 year-old striker Freddie Sears of West Ham, whom he coached during his time there. Seems a little unnecessary. (The Sun)

Ed Harrison of nufcblog.com says that Sky Sports is reporting interest in Glenn Whelan, but I can't find this on the Sky Sports website - or anywhere else for that matter. In other words, this seems like a rumor of a rumor.