Striker Best fired up to face Mags

Ipswich Town striker Leon Best is relishing his return to St James’s Park in tomorrow’s Sky Bet Championship clash.

The 30-year-old hit 10 goals for Newcastle United in two years on Tyneside from February 2010, but his focus now is on getting Ipswich up the table.

Mick McCarthy’s men head north on the back of a 2-0 midweek victory over Burton Albion, a first victory since mid-September.

But their strength is at the back, with just two goals conceded in the last seven matches, with five clean sheets in the process.

Best, yet to score for Ipswich since joining in the summer, told itfc.co.uk: “It’s the first time I’ll be back there, so I’m definitely looking forward to it and hopefully we can get a win.

“The crowd there’s massive and they’ve been on a good run, but the boys seem reallyupforit.We’vescored goals and kept another clean sheet, so we’ll be going up there confident.”

Fellow frontman Freddie Sears added: “It’s going to be tough,but the pressure is on them so if we can go and cause an upset then brilliant.”

McCarthy has midfielder Jonny Williams (after a thigh problem) and striker David McGoldrick (ruled out with ruptured ankle ligaments since August) available again to face Newcastle. But Cole Skuse is rated doubtful after picking up a toe problem against Burton on Tuesday.

Newcastle will look to build on their position at the top of the Championship, with captain Jamaal Lascelles saying the challenge is to maintain their momentum over the coming weeks and months.

Lascelles said: “We’ve set a marker now. We need to hold this position, but, at the same time, we don’t want to get carried away. We’ve still got to take every game step by step.”

Dwight Gayle scored both goals as Newcastle won at Barnsley in midweek to take his tally for the season to 11.

“It’s always nice when the strikers are banging them in like that,” said Lascelles. “At the same time, he’s getting great deliveries from midfield – everyone’s playing a part. Dwight’s up there to do that and he’s doing his job. He’s got to keep his feet on the floor and keep working hard.”