Chelsea (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction
In a battle of the two best English managers in the Premier League, Eddie Howe's Mags meet Graham Potter's Chelsea at St James' Park in our final game before the World Cup break.
At this stage of the season, we're used to discussing relegation battles and the dreaded pile up of fixtures coming our way, yet we enter this game with a completely different feeling around the club.
Win and we'll not only move NINE points clear of top four rivals Chelsea, but be guaranteed to sit third in the Premier League on Christmas Day.
Keeping in mind we were winless, in the bottom three and backed to go down this time last year, it's quite incredible to see how far we've come over the past 12 months. Whatever happens on Saturday night, we can't lose sight of that.
Our midweek clash with Crystal Palace was a tough watch at times, but a shootout win in front of a packed out St James' Park kept the momentum going ahead of our final home game for over a month.
Since then, we've seen Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier AND Callum Wilson earn England call ups, drawn Bournemouth in the last 16 of the EFL Cup and seen Eddie Howe and Miguel Almiron land Premier League awards, although there's a slight doubt over our number nine this weekend after training alone all week.
Whether Wilson plays or not, this promises to be a special send off for a brilliant group of lads who've constantly done us proud over the past year. Let's raise the roof and hope for another huge win!
Team news
Callum Wilson (illness) is a doubt after training away from the group all week, while Alexander Isak (thigh), Ryan Fraser (calf), Matt Ritchie (calf) and Emil Krafth (ACL) remain out.
For Chelsea, they're set to be without Reece James, Wesley Fofana, N’Golo Kante, Ben Chilwell, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Carney Chukwuemeka. They lost 2-0 at Man City in midweek but rotated heavily.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Bruno, Longstaff, Willock – Almiron, Wood, Joelinton.
I fully expect Howe to go with the defence that's served us so well in recent weeks, meaning Trippier, Botman and Schar should come back in, with Burn back in at left-back.
A midfield three of Bruno, Willock and Longstaff seems likely, with Joelinton on the left and Almiron down the right.
The big question is who starts up top. Howe revealed on Friday morning that Wilson has trained separately this week, although it's not clear if that was to minimise the spread or simply because he wasn't well enough to take part with the main group. I imagine it's a bit of both, but don't think Howe will take a risk on our number nine.
If he's not feeling 100%, Howe will be reluctant to throw him back in - especially when he's days away from flying to Qatar with the England squad. With that in mind, I think Wood will keep his place. He offered very little in midweek, but did take his goal very well at Southampton last Sunday.
I wouldn't rule out Murphy returning down the left and Joelinton starting up top, as he's more mobile than Wood and able to press at a greater intensity, however I think the Kiwi could be given another start if Wilson isn't risked.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Mendy - Azpilicueta, Koulibaly, Silva, Cucurella - Kovacic, Jorginho, Mount - Havertz, Aubameyang, Sterling.
Prediction
If Wilson is able to play, I'm confident we'll pull off another big win under the lights. We are a different team when he's up top, but I'd be surprised if he starts after barely training all week.
That said, with just one defeat at St James' Park this calendar, I see us keeping the unbeaten run going against an out of sorts Chelsea side.
Whoever starts, let's hope we manage to sign off for the World Cup break in style!
Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Chelsea
