The 32-year-old has attracted the surge of support amid press reports that owner Mike Ashley is set to turn to his long-serving club captain, with Alan Pardew poised to take over at Crystal Palace.
Tim Sherwood and Steve Bruce were considered the early favourites but have since drifted out to 7/1 and 8/1 respectively.
It's the cheap option open to Mike Ashley, and I'm sure he will see it good business getting £2m for Pardew and getting a new manager for nothing.
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NEWCASTLE UTD 3 EVERTON 2
NEWCASTLE UTD
31. Jak Alnwick
22. Daryl Janmaat
6. Mike Williamson
2. Fabricio Coloccini
36. Paul Dummett
24. Cheick Tiote
14. Jack Colback
7. Moussa Sissoko
17. Ayoze Perez
11. Yoan Gouffran 90+1'
9. Papiss Cisse 73'
Subs
3. Davide Santon
8. Vurnon Anita
20. Remy Cabella 90+1'
27. Steven Taylor
29. Emmanuel Riviere 73'
32. Adam Armstrong
41. Freddie Woodman
EVERTON
1. Joel
23. Seamus Coleman
30. Antolin Alcaraz
15. Sylvain Distin
29. Luke Garbutt
16. James McCarthy 45'
18. Gareth Barry
7. Aiden McGeady 61'
5. Samuel Eto'o
3. Leighton Baines
9. Arouna Kone 72'
Subs
8. Bryan Oviedo
10. Romelu Lukaku 72'
11. Kevin Mirallas 61'
17. Muhamed Besic
20. Ross Barkley 45'
27. Tyias Browning
45. Russell Griffiths
Papiss Cisse's fifth goal in six games launched a Newcastle fightback as they ended a four-match losing streak with a 3-2 victory over Everton.
The Senegal international cancelled out Arouna Kone's fifth-minute opener - his first for Everton on his first Barclays Premier League start for the club he joined during the summer of 2013 - with a close-range finish 11 minutes before the break .
However, Toffees boss Roberto Martinez may feel the African Cup of Nations-bound frontman was lucky to still be on the pitch after appearing to catch full-back Seamus Coleman with a flailing arm four minutes earlier, and there may yet be repercussions with referee Craig Pawson having taken no action at the time.
But if it was Cisse who started the ball rolling, it was Ayoze Perez and Jack Colback who completed the job with the Spaniard's fifth goal for the club giving them a 51st-minute lead which was cemented by Colback's first in a black and white shirt 16 minutes later, although substitute Kevin Mirallas' late strike made for a tense conclusion.
Newcastle ran out in front of a crowd of 52,313 having lost their last four games in all competitions, three of them in the Barclays Premier League, a run which included a 1-0 derby defeat by Sunderland in their last home fixture.
With some bookmakers having stopped taking bets on Alan Pardew being appointed the next Crystal Palace manager, there was an air of uncertainty around St James' Park before kick-off, although the 53-year-old and his players were concentrating simply on the 90 minutes ahead.
They were boosted by the Everton team-sheet, which showed seven changes, many of them enforced by injury and suspension, to the side which lost 1-0 at home to Stoke on Boxing Day, although it was the visitors who started much the brighter.
They got their reward with just five minutes gone when Aiden McGeady slid the ball into the space where full-back Paul Dummett should have been for Seamus Coleman to leave Yoan Gouffran in his wake and cross for Kone to convert from close range with central defenders Fabricio Coloccini and Mike Williamson looking on in horror.
The Magpies were simply not at the races as Gareth Barry was allowed to orchestrate from the middle of the park, and when they finally managed to string two passes together, Moussa Sissoko's touch deserted him in spectacular style as he ran on to Cisse's 12th-minute flick.
However, they gradually worked their way into the game, although without being able to find the required quality in the final third with keeper Joel Robles untroubled.
Coleman was left on his backside and claiming bitterly to the referee after clashing with Cisse as the pair awaited the delivery of a set-piece, and replays suggested the defender might have had a point about the striker's swinging arm.
He was even more aggrieved four minutes later when the striker fired the home side level, reacting first when Williamson turned Cheick Tiote's cross back across goal to beat Robles.
Martinez replaced James McCarthy with Ross Barkley before the restart, and it took the newcomer just three minutes to embark upon a trademark run upfield, although his pass to Kone was poor.
But it was Robles' goal which came under threat two minutes later with the keeper turning the ball aside after it ricocheted off Gouffran's shins, although his relief was only momentary as Tiote picked out Perez on the left and he cut inside Distin before thumping a shot through Coleman's legs and into the bottom corner.
The home side were growing in confidence, but they could not afford to relax and they were grateful to see Samuel Eto'o sky a 64th-minute effort high over after Leighton Baines had out-fought Tiote on the sideline.
But the visitors fell further behind three minutes later when Barkley failed to cut out Daryl Janmaat's cross and Colback stabbed the ball past Robles to make it 3-1.
Mirallas reduced the deficit with six minutes remaining when he got behind a static Newcastle defence to stab Baines' long ball past the advancing Jak Alnwick, but that was as good as it got for the Merseysiders as they slipped to a third successive defeat.
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NEWCASTLE UTD v BURNLEY Thursday Jan 1st
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Newcastle Utd Fixtures ...
2014/15 SEASON
Sunday August 17
NEWCASTLE 0 MAN CITY 2
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Colback, Anita (63' Obertan), Cabella, Sissoko, Gouffran (74' Aarons), Riviere (83' Perez).
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor, Abeid
Saturday August 23
ASTON VILLA 0 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Anita (70' de Jong), Colback, Cabella, Sissoko, Gouffran, Riviere (77' Perez - 90+2' S Taylor).
Subs: Haidara, Elliot, Obertan, Abeid
Tuesday August 26
LC GILLINGHAM 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Egan OG)
Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini, S Taylor, Haidara, Sissoko, Abeid, Obertan, de Jong (68' Perez), Aarons (60' Cabella), Riviere (86' Gouffran)
Subs: Anita, Ferreyra, Elliot, Dummett
Saturday August 30
NEWCASTLE 3 CRYSTAL PALACE 3 (Janmaat, Aarons, Williamson)
Krul, Janmaat (79' Perez), Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Sissoko, Colback, Cabella, de Jong (79' Anita), Gouffran (67' Aarons), Riviere
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor, Dummett
Saturday September 13
SOUTHAMPTON 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Haidara, Anita (45' Tiote), Colback, Cabella (69' Perez), Sissoko (90'Ameobi), Gouffran, Riviere
Subs: Elliot, Obertan, S Taylor, Armstrong
Saturday September 20
NEWCASTLE 2 HULL CITY (Cisse 2)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote (85' Ameobi), Colback, Sissoko, Cabella, Gouffran (90+4' Perez), Riviere (69' Cisse)
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Elliot, S Taylor
Wednesday September 24
LC CRYSTAL PALACE 2 NEWCASTLE 3 AET (Riviere 2, Dummett)
Elliot, Janmaat (46 Haidara), Coloccini, S Taylor, Dummett, Colback, Abeid, Obertan, Armstrong, Ameobi (66 Sissoko), Riviere (80 Perez)
Subs: Anita, Ferreyra, Cabella, Alnwick
Monday September 29
STOKE CITY 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Sissoko, Cabella (74' Ameobi), Gouffran (68' Obertan), Riviere (45' Cisse)
Subs: Anita, Elliot, S Taylor, Armstrong
Saturday October 4
SWANSEA CITY 2 NEWCASTLE 2 (Cisse 2)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Obertan, Tiote, Sissoko, Colback (69' Riviere), Gouffran (58' Ameobi), Cisse (85' Perez).
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Cabella, Elliot
Saturday October 18
NEWCASTLE 1 LEICESTER CITY 0 (Obertan)
Krul, Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett (72' Haidara), Tiote, Anita (59' Perez), Colback, Obertan, Sissoko, Gouffran (90+2' Cabella), Cisse
Subs: Elliot, Abeid, Armstrong
Saturday October 26
TOTTENHAM 1 NEWCASTLE 2 (Ameobi, Perez)
Krul, Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett, Anita (45' Cabella), Colback, Obertan (45' Ameobi), Sissoko, Gouffran, Perez (79' Haidara)
Subs: R Taylor, Ferreyra, Elliot, Armstrong
Wednesday October 29
LC MAN CITY 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Aarons, Sissoko)
Elliot, Janmaat (64' Sissoko), Coloccini, Dummett, Haidara, Colback, R Taylor, Abeid, Obertan, Armstrong (65' Riviere), Aarons (46' Ameobi)
Subs: Krul, Gouffran, Perez, Cabella
Saturday November 1
NEWCASTLE 1 LIVERPOOL 0 (Perez)
Elliot, Krul, Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett, Abeid, Colback, Obertan (27' Aarons), Sissoko), Ameobi (66' Cabella), Cisse (45' Perez)
Subs: R Taylor, Gouffran, Haidara, Elliot
Sunday November 9
WEST BROM 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Perez, Coloccini)
Krul, Janmaat, Coloccini (78' Williamson), Dummett, Haidara, Abeid, Colback, Cabella (82' R Taylor), Sissoko, Ameobi (78' Gouffran), Perez
Subs: Anita, Cisse, Elliot, Armstrong
Saturday November 22
NEWCASTLE 1 QPR 0 (sissoko)
Krul, Janmaat, Williamson, Dummett, Haidara, R Taylor (34' Gouffran), Colback, Cabella (68' Cisse), Sissoko, Ameobi, Perez (89' Armstrong)
Subs: Anita, Ferreyra, Elliot, Streete
Saturday November 29
WEST HAM 1 NEWCASTLE 0
Elliot, Janmaat (74' S Taylor), Williamson, Dummett, Haidara, Tiote (63' Cabella), Colback, Gouffran (63' Cisse), Sissoko, Ameobi, Perez
Subs: Anita, Riviere, Alnwick, Armstrong
Tuesday December 2
BURNLEY 1 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse)
Elliot, Janmaat, Williamson (45' S Taylor), Dummett, Haidara, Abeid, Tiote, Gouffran, Perez (45' Cabella), Ameobi (75' Riviere), Cisse
Subs: Anita, Alnwick, Armstrong, Streete
Saturday December 6
NEWCASTLE 2 CHELSEA 1 (Cisse 2)
Elliot (45' Alnwick), Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Cabella (53' Cisse), Sissoko, Ameobi (83' Williamson), Perez
Subs: Anita, Gouffran, Haidara, Riviere
Saturday December 13
ARSENAL 4 NEWCASTLE 1 (Perez)
Alnwick, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Perez (82' Armstrong), Ameobi (56' Cabella), Gouffran, Cisse (56' Riviere)
Subs: Anita, Haidara, Vuckic, Woodman
Wednesday December 17
LC TOTTENHAM 4 NEWCASTLE 0
Alnwick, Coloccini, Williamson, Haidara, Dummett, Colback, Cabella (80' Vuckic), Gouffran, Perez, Sissoko (73' Anita), Riviere (60' Armstrong)
Subs: Streete, Satka, Woodman, Roberts
Sunday December 21
NEWCASTLE 0 SUNDERLAND 1
Alnwick, Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote (75' Cisse), Colback, Gouffran (59' Armstrong), Sissoko, Ameobi (89' Cabella), Perez
Subs: Williamson, Haidara, Riviere, Woodman
Friday December 26
MANCHESTER UNITED 3 NEWCASTLE 1 (Cisse pen)
Alnwick, Janmaat, S Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett (63' Cabella), Anita, Colback, Gouffran, Sissoko, Armstrong (63' Cisse), Perez (82' Vuckic)
Subs: Williamson, Riviere, Satka, Woodman
Sunday December 28
NEWCASTLE 3 EVERTON 2 (Cisse, Perez, Colback)
Alnwick, Janmaat, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett, Tiote, Colback, Sissoko, Perez, Gouffran (90+1' Cabella), Cisse (73' Riviere)
Subs: Santon, Anita, S Taylor, Armstrong, Woodman
Thursday January 1 2015
Newcastle United v Burnley
Saturday January 10 2015
Chelsea v Newcastle United
Saturday January 17 2015
Newcastle United v Southampton
Saturday January 31 2015
Hull City v Newcastle United
Saturday February 7 2015
Newcastle United v Stoke City
Tuesday February 10 2015
Crystal Palace v Newcastle United
Saturday February 21 2015
Manchester City v Newcastle United
Saturday February 28 2015
Newcastle United v Aston Villa
Wednesday March 4 2015
Newcastle United v Man Utd
Saturday March 14 2015
Everton v Newcastle United
Saturday March 21 2015
Newcastle United v Arsenal
Saturday April 4 2015
Sunderland v Newcastle United
Saturday April 11 2015
Liverpool v Newcastle United
Saturday April 18 2015
Newcastle United v Tottenham
Saturday April 25 2015
Newcastle United v Swansea City
Saturday May 2 2015
Leicester City v Newcastle United
Saturday May 9 2015
Newcastle United v West Brom
Saturday May 16 2015
QPR v Newcastle United
Sunday May 24 2015
Newcastle United v West Ham United