Early Saturday kick-offs have proved fruitful for the Blues so far this term, with victories recorded over Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Burnley. And on our most recent lunchtime visit to the Magpies' home, we sealed a comfortable 2-0 victory, although that took place during lockdown without a crowd.

That away victory was not typical for matches between the two clubs, however. Whether in London or the north-east, Chelsea versus Newcastle has produced the most home wins of any Premier League fixture, with the Blues winning 22 of 30 as host club and the Magpies 15.

Both sides were on Carabao Cup quarter-final duty in midweek. Tuesday’s victory at Cardiff City earned the Blues a third semi-final tie under Enzo Maresca since May, and that was despite 11 changes from our 2-0 league victory over Everton.

Yoane Wissa, meanwhile, netted on his first start for the Magpies in a 2-1 defeat of our postcode neighbours Fulham on Wednesday, but some fans are still smarting from last weekend’s Tyne-Wear derby loss to Sunderland in the league.

Chelsea have the second-best points return on the road in the Premier League this season (14), and we would move five points clear of the chasing pack with a win.

Chelsea team news

Maresca outlined ahead of the trip to Newcastle that there are no fresh injury concerns for the Blues to contend with at St James' Park.

He rotated his squad for the midweek win at Cardiff City but has confirmed those who sat out that Carabao Cup tie - including Cole Palmer - are available to feature at the weekend.

‘We are good,’ responded our head coach when questioned about the squad's condition in his pre-match press conference, before providing an update on the potential returns of several players over the busy Christmas period.

'We probably have Liam Delap and Estevao Willian back for the game against Aston Villa [on 27 December), which is good news. But Romeo [Lavia] is still out, Dario Essugo is still out and Levi [Colwill] is still out.'

Palmer has yet to complete 90 minutes since returning from injury earlier this month, but the Blues head coach believes the England international is ready to do so, if required, against the Magpies.

‘He is available,' the Blues head coach said. 'He has already played 60 minutes twice – last time maybe it was even a little bit more. So the progression is that he can play more minutes, whether that is for 70 or 90 minutes depends on the game.’

The history

Chelsea have travelled to St James’ Park 79 times in the league, the first occasion being a 1-0 loss in Division One in September 1907. The Londoners have since won 19 of those north-versus-south battles and drawn 18.

From September 1954 until March 1963, Chelsea were triumphant on Tyneside six times in eight league visits. The last of those wins was our biggest ever victory at Newcastle, 6-1, with the brilliant Jimmy Greaves accounting for four of the goals.

Retrieving the ball from the net that day was future Chelsea midfielder John Hollins’ brother, Dave.

Four straight losses were then followed by four games unbeaten between January 1999 and September 2002.

Five without defeat between April 2007 and December 2011 was another good spell at a traditionally difficult stadium. Didier Drogba’s early header looked enough to seal the points in the last of those games, a lunch-time start, before a late, late show from Salomon Kalou and Daniel Sturridge sealed a 3-0 win.

Consecutive raids at St James’ Park brought the spoils home again at the start of the 2020s. A lunch-time kick-off behind closed doors in November 2020 brought an early own goal by Federico Fernandez and a second-half strike from Tammy Abraham.

We went one better in October 2021, with Reece James in scintillating form as he fired home two outstanding strikes. Jorginho added a late third from the penalty spot.

However, three successive league defeats have followed and last season’s Premier League trip, plus one in the League Cup, both ending as 2-0 losses.

Know this...

Chelsea have secured the joint-most clean sheets in the top flight (eight, same as Arsenal), including five in the past seven games and four in the last five on the road.

Newcastle have won four of their last five home league games, scoring twice in each.

Pedro Neto has already matched his best goals return in England’s top flight (five, 2020/21), and four of his five this season have come away from home.

Chelsea (28) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (two) are the only Premier League clubs whose away points tallies match those at home.

By overcoming Cardiff City in midweek, the Blues reached our 10th domestic cup semi-final in 10 seasons. We have progressed from the past 19 League Cup meetings with lower division opponents, the second-longest such run by a top-flight club.