Nottingham Forest (H) Pre-match views, team news, possible line-ups & prediction
This time last year, things felt so different.
An unfit Newcastle United were full of square pegs in round holes as a Steve Bruce side - featuring a back six of Woodman, Murphy, Krafth, Fernandez, Clark and Ritchie - were beaten 4-2 by West Ham on the opening day of the 2021/22 season at St James' Park.
12 months on, apathy has been replaced with excitement as Eddie Howe's Mags head into a new campaign with genuine momentum and a buzz around the city like never before.
After years of neglect under the previous regime left us turning up to games out of habit, hoping at best we'd be able to stave off relegation for another season, St James' Park will now be packed to the rafters for all the right reasons, full of revitalised fans ready to witness the first full season of this ambitious, new-look Newcastle United.
A new deal for Eddie Howe has come after some brilliant summer signings both on and off the pitch, with Dan Ashworth, Darren Eales (CEO) and Sven Botman just some of the new names we've seen arrive over the summer.
Howe will be looking to implement a new style of play, featuring more possession, more pressing and a great control of games. This may take time, but with three solid additions so far, a strong pre-season under our belts, Bruno's brilliance, Trippier's talismanic presence and the expectation that TWO new attackers will also arrive, we're looking in great shape.
First up is Nottingham Forest, who return to the Premier League after 23 years away from the top flight. Steve Cooper is a good manager and has been backed heavily in the transfer market, recently landing former Toon target Jessie Lingard - his 12th signing of the summer!
The influx of so many new faces could go either way. It may only add to their momentum if everything clicks, yet some wonder if this could be the perfect time to face the newly-promoted Reds who won't yet know their best 11.
Team news
Jonjo Shelvey will miss out with a hamstring injury, with him currently in London to determine the full extent of the damage done after he limped off in a pre-season defeat at Benfica last month.
Eddie Howe says Sven Botman looks "ready" and could make his first competitive start for the club alongside Nick Pope, however Federico Fernandez, Jamal Lewis and Javier Manquillo will all miss out after failing to feature over pre-season.
For Forest, new left-back Omar Richards will miss this one after suffering a hairline leg fracture in training, while Ryan Yates remains out.
Jesse Lingard and Dean Henderson could both make their debuts for the Reds alongside new wing-back Neco Williams, with ex-Mag Jack Colback also likely to start while new signings bed in.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Targett – Guimaraes, S Longstaff, Joelinton – Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.
Dubravka has done little wrong and would feel hard done by to lose his place, however it speaks volumes that we still felt the need to bring in Pope - who won't be coming to sit on the bench in the midst of a World Cup year. Because of that, I think our new 6ft 6' stopper starts.
Some wonder if Howe will ease Botman into the side based on the rock-solid partnership Burn and Schar have developed, but I can't help but feel the big Dutchman is too good to ignore as a giant presence who is equally good on the deck.
If the former Lille man does start, I expect it to be alongside Schar, as the left-footed Burn would require Botman to play on his wrong side - which wouldn't be ideal on his first Premier League outing!
In midfield, I want Joe Willock to play, feeling a midfield three of him, Bruno and big Joe would be attacking, mobile and able to cause havoc against Forest. However, Howe spoke highly of Sean Longstaff in his presser and he is a more natural replacement for Shelvey after performing well in a deep-lying role against Atalanta.
As for our front three, Wilson and Saint-Maximin are two of the first names on the team sheet when fit, while Miggy Almiron will be hoping to take his pre-season form into the Premier League out on the right.
Predicted Forest XI: (3-4-3): Henderson - Worrall (c), Cook, McKenna - Williams, O'Brien, Colback, Toffolo - Lingard, Awoiniyi, Johnson.
Match prediction
We've had a productive pre-season and look to be in a good place physically, looking visibly fitter and far more prepared than we were this time last year.
We have the momentum, home comforts and may catch Forest cold. They'll be buzzing to be back, however I do feel think it will take time for new signings to settle into the starting 11. Even if many of those don't feature, I dread to think how Jack Colback will cope if he's in a midfield battle with Bruno Guimaraes!
Wilson to score twice and our pressing to pay off in an opening day win at SJP!
Prediction: Newcastle 3-1 Nottingham Forest
