Steven Fletcher fit to face Newcastle

Boss Mick McCarthy today pledged to return to 4-4-2 against Newcastle on Saturday. Steven Fletcher is fully fit after a groin injury kept him on the bench until half-time of the Liverpool game last weekend.

And that is likely to see the club-record £7m signing restored up front alongside Kevin Doyle for the visit of the high-flying Magpies.

Dave Edwards was deployed in the hole as McCarthy switched to 4-4-1-1 at Anfield but the boss later said Edwards wasn't fully match fit.

"We will be playing 4-4-2 on Saturday," said the boss. "I didn't have two fit strikers to play from the start last week so I played Dave. But Fletcher is fully fit and we will have two strikers on the pitch on Saturday."