FORMER Ipswich Town loanee striker Marlon Harewood is set to face his old club on Saturday, after completing a loan switch from Aston Villa to Newcastle United yesterday.

Carl Marston

by Carl Marston

FORMER Ipswich Town loanee striker Marlon Harewood is set to face his old club on Saturday, after completing a loan switch from Aston Villa to Newcastle United yesterday.

Harewood, the man who missed a sitter for Town against Oxford United 10 years ago, has moved to St James' Park on a loan move until the turn of the year, and he should make his Magpies debut at Portman Road.

"We're delighted to have him (Harewood) on board," confirmed Newcastle caretaker manager Chris Hughton.

"He brings with him both physical presence and experience, which is what we're looking for."

It was ex-Town manager George Burley who brought Harewood to Portman Road for a loan spell from Nottingham Forest in 1999. The youthful striker did score once in six appearances, but he will forever be remembered for failing to score from a matter of a few feet out into an empty net during a 2-1 win at Oxford.

Harewood has gone on to carve out a good career for himself at Forest, West Ham and Aston Villa, although he is currently well down the pecking order of strikers at Villa Park.

The 30-year-old will go straight into Newcastle's squad against Town, having recently recovered from a foot injury.

Meanwhile, Joey Barton will be a definite non-starter against Town tomorrow. The tenacious midfielder is sidelined by an ankle injury.