Leicester City will look to take a step closer towards Premier League safety after a week where manager Nigel Pearson made bizarre headline news.

Despite seeing his side perform admirably in the 3-1 defeat by Chelsea on Wednesday, Pearson's outburst at a journalist following that match dominated the agenda ahead of the match against Newcastle on Saturday.

The 51-year-old reacted to a query on his claim that his side have received recent criticism by labelling the reporter an "ostrich" in a two-minute putdown.

Pearson went on to apologise to the journalist in his press conference on Thursday where questions about his off-the-field behaviour came to the fore.

The former Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough captain has already been banned from the touchline after abusing a supporter against Liverpool, was involved in an unsavoury altercation with Crystal Palace's James McArthur and also swore at another journalist following a game this season.

"Apologies for last night," Pearson said Thursday following his latest outburst. "I think it is right to do it in front of the cameras and hope it does not ruin our relationship."

"They wheel us out and I was not happy about losing. The players worked exceptionally hard. It is frustrating but there we are, we move on."

He added: "There has been some unfair criticism of the team, it has been mixed. Some observations have been made by people who have not seen a large proportion of our season.

"I react. Is it pressure? Might be. It's emotion more than anything. I'm not afraid of showing my emotions.

"I get labelled with certain titles which is people's prerogative and I also accept when I've strayed out of line so it is only right to apologise.

"I'm not trying to win any popularity contest and don't think I will be in the running for any of that.

"I've apologised and if it was more private I would apologise one-to-one. But it has been in the public eye."

On the field, Pearson is still waiting to see if Andy King (hamstring) and Robert Huth (calf) will be fit to feature as his side look to go within one point of their opponents.

The pair are extremely doubtful after they went off with first-half injuries against Chelsea.

Newcastle boss John Carver has admitted his players are in danger of developing a mental block after an unwanted club record of seven consecutive Premier League defeats that has left them just five points above the relegation zone.

High-profile former Newcastle players Michael Owen and Alan Shearer have both claimed their old club will struggle to earn another point this season, as they aim to avoid a repeat of their performance in 2009 when they dropped into the Championship.

Interim head coach Carver's hopes of landing the role on a permanent basis have been ended by a run of just two wins in 16 games since taking temporary charge following Alan Pardew's departure to Crystal Palace in January.

Carver is set to welcome midfielder Moussa Sissoko back from suspension as Newcastle look to increase the four-point advantage on the Foxes.

The 50-year-old Carver admitted: "When you've not won a game for so long, it starts to play on your mind, it definitely does.

"But we've just got to concentrate on our performance levels and hopefully the results will come."

Former Ajax midfielder Siem de Jong is pushing for his first start since August, after ending an eight-month injury absence by coming off the bench to score in Newcastle's 3-2 defeat by Swansea.

Dutch defender Daryl Janmaat is expected to play despite being forced off against the Swans through illness.

Newcastle's lengthy injury list means Steven Taylor, Cheick Tiote, Rolando Aarons, Massadio Haidara and Rob Elliot are all unavailable, while top-scorer Papiss Cisse serves the last of a seven-game ban imposed for spitting in an incident with defender Jonny Evans during the 1-0 defeat by Manchester United in March.