Another reunion with former club Bournemouth awaits Eddie Howe on Saturday, as Newcastle United entertain the Cherries’ at St James’ Park in the Premier League.
Newcastle United are in search of three points at home to get back in the conversation for European football, while Bournemouth look to snap out of a long Premier League slump to get their top-half push back on track.
The Magpies have reignited their European hopes in recent weeks after recovering from their desperate four-game and six-of-seven losing streak in the Premier League. They have sandwiched high-scoring wins over Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest around a thrilling 4-4 stalemate at Luton Town.
However, they will need a strong end to the season if they are to finish in the top six, as they already sit five points behind Man United.
Bournemouth will look to complete a league double over Newcastle United with a win at St. James’ Park. However, the Cherries’ currently find themselves in a rut, having acquired just two points from five matches since a Boxing Day victory over Fulham and have kept zero clean sheets during that stretch.
This woeful run comes after Andoni Iraola’s men went on an incredible seven-game unbeaten run (6W), including a 2-0 home win over Newcastle on November 11 in the reverse fixture. And ahead of their latest matchup against Newcastle at St James’ Park, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both sides.
Team News & Tactics
Newcastle United
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe is sweating over the fitness of striker Callum Wilson, who looked to be in some discomfort towards the end of last weekend’s win at Nottingham Forest and has reportedly undergone a pectoral surgery that could keep him out for up to six-to-eight weeks.
If true, this would be another big blow for the Magpies’, with fellow striker Alexander Isak (groin) also a significant doubt.
Both Joe Willock (calf) and Elliot Anderson (back) are inching closer to their respective returns; the latter is further ahead in his recovery than the former, but Sandro Tonali (suspension), Joelinton (thigh), Nick Pope (shoulder), and Matt Targett (thigh) all remain on the sidelines.
Anthony Gordon should be fine to continue following a recent knock and could be asked to operate as a central striker, with Harvey Barnes coming in on the left flank. Miguel Almiron and Jacob Murphy will be battling it out for the final spot in the attacking trident.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Miley, Guimaraes, Longstaff; Almiron, Gordon, Barnes
Bournemouth
Bournemouth remain without the services of Tyler Adams, Max Aarons (both thigh), Ryan Fredericks (calf), James Hill (ankle), and Darren Randolph (illness) due to various injury concerns.
Philip Billing is only one match through a three-game ban following his straight red card in the Forest game, so Ryan Christie, Lewis Cook, and Alex Scott will retain their places in the starting lineup.
Deadline day recruit Enes Unal made his Cherries debut coming off the bench in the second half against Fulham, and the Turkish striker is expected to get a run-out again this weekend, although he is not expected to replace top scorer Dominic Solanke up top anytime soon.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Neto; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kelly; Christie, Cook; Tavernier, Kluivert, Sinisterra; Solanke
Key Stats
- Both teams have scored in Newcastle’s last three Premier League home games.
- Newcastle United have failed to win their last three Premier League home games.
- Over 2.5 goals have been scored in Newcastle’s last three Premier League home games.
- The Magpies’ are unbeaten in their last three Premier League games (W2, D1).
- Bournemouth won the reverse fixture against Newcastle and could complete a Premier League double over the Magpies for the first time in their history.
Player to Watch
Fabian Schar
There have been few better bargains in Newcastle’s history than Fabian Schar’s move to Newcastle for under €3 million. It’s been highlighted by his purple patch of goals, but Schar’s 2,804 minutes across all competitions this season have been extra valuable given the long injury to Sven Botman.
With no natural striker available to him, Eddie Howe will be hoping his classy Swiss ball-playing centre-back can chip in with a few more goals in the coming stretch of games.
Prediction
Newcastle United 3-0 Bournemouth
Although Bournemouth are no walkover, Newcastle are expected to kick on from their win over Nottingham Forest. Newcastle’s leaky backline and Bournemouth’s poor recent form could lead to plenty of goalmouth action at St James’ Park this weekend.
Still operating without a natural striker, the Magpies’ attack has looked back to somewhere near their best and may just do enough to outscore their opponents to claim three important points here.
