Newcastle United will take on Aston Villa this Sunday on the 13th of February. The match will kick off at 2:00 pm at St. James’ Park.
Newcastle is out of the relegation zone and will want to build upon that. Eddie Howe’s side wants to stay up in the top flight and continue to build upon possible the start of an era for them. The Magpies brought in five quality additions to the team and have won their last two games. Aston Villa on the other hand squandered their two-goal lead and dropped points against Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds. However, they will take positives from the form of Phil Coutinho and youngster Jacob Ramsey.
Newcastle is 4 points below Everton and 1 clear of Norwich also having games in hand over Norwich and Watford. The Magpies have got some breathing space and will not want to slip up again. The new signings are settling in well especially Kieran Trippier. The Englishman was in fine form against Everton scoring a wonderful freekick. The addition of Bruno Guimaraes to the lineup will also provide a new dimension in midfield.
Newcastle United Premier League Form: W W D D L L
Villa under Steven Gerrard has looked like a new side. The Lions have shown a lot of promise. Coutinho has proved to be their key man, with an impressive start after his return to England. The Brazilian will want to continue his rich vein of form. Villa is 11th in the league with a chance to go 10th if they manage to win. A finish in the top half of the table will be the target for Gerrard’s side who had endured a torrid start to the season before appointing the former Rangers manager.
Aston Villa Premier League Form: D W D L L W
ASTON VILLA AND NEWCASTLE NEWS
NEWCASTLE TEAM NEWS
Eddie Howe has confirmed that Trippier will face a late fitness test after the right-back went off with a calf injury in midweek. Javier Manquillo could therefore be handed a start if the Englishman is unable to recover in time.
Newcastle will also be without Callum Wilson, Matt Ritchie, Isaac Hayden, Ciaran Clark, Paul Dummett and Federico Fernandez due to injury, but the latter two are closing in on a return to first-team training.
Villa loanee Matt Targett is ineligible to face his parent club, so Dan Burn is expected to be handed his debut at left-back, with Lascelles and Fabian Schar to continue in the heart of the defence.
Howe has also revealed that big-money signing Bruno Guimaraes is ready to play this weekend, with the Brazilian set to start in centre-midfield ahead of either Joe Willock, Jonjo Shelvey or Joelinton.
NEWCASTLE PREDICTED LINEUP AGAINST ASTON VILLA
Dubravka; Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Burn; Guimaraes, Shelvey, Joelinton; Fraser, Wood, Saint-Maximin.
ASTON VILLA TEAM NEWS
As for Aston Villa, Calum Chambers could be handed his first start for the club at the expense of the suspended Ezri Konsa, partnering with Tyrone Mings at centre-back.
Otherwise, Gerrard is unlikely to make too many changes to his starting lineup, with midfield trio Ramsey, Douglas Luiz and John McGinn set to retain their places, as are attacking front three Coutinho, Emiliano Buendia and Ollie Watkins.
Marvellous Nakamba remains sidelined with a long-term knee injury, but Leon Bailey has returned to training and could feature this weekend, while Bertrand Traore may also be in contention after returning from international duty with Burkina Faso.
ASTON VILLA PREDICTED LINEUP AGAINST NEWCASTLE
Martinez; Cash, Chambers, Mings, Digne; McGinn, Luiz, Ramsey; Buendia, Watkins, Coutinho.
OUR PREDICTION
Newcastle United 2 – 2 Aston Villa
Aston Villa secured a routine win in the reverse fixture against Newcastle earlier this season, but they are set to face a different proposition on Sunday and could be in for a challenging afternoon in the North-East. We are expecting a game with lots of goals with both sides in red hot form in terms of goals.
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