Aston Villa (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction
After 11 weeks away, Premier League football is finally back, as Newcastle United kick off their 2023/24 campaign with the visit of Aston Villa to St James' Park.
It's been a positive summer so far. Anthony Gordon helped England's U21 to Euro glory, we've brought in three quality signings in Sandro Tonali, Harvey Barnes and Tino Livramento, and our pre-season has been positive.
It kicked off at Gateshead with a 3-2 win in the soaking wet, then came a 2-1 win at Rangers, followed by our trip to America for the Summer Series, where we drew 3-3 with Aston Villa, 1-1 with Chelsea and beat Brighton at the death thanks to a brilliant brace from Elliot Anderson.
To round things off ahead of the new season, last weekend's Sela Cup features a 2-0 win over Fiorentina and Barnes brace during Sunday's 4-0 dismantling of Villarreal. So, all in all, a promising few months - but now the hard work starts!
Eddie Howe has challenged his players to "earn that right all over again" after last season's heroics saw us seal a top-four finish and return to the Champions League after 20 years away. He knows this term will pose a 'different dynamic' and a host of new challenges as we bid to maintain our incredible 2022/23 form while competing on four fronts.
First up, we face Aston Villa; a team being tipped to become the latest side to unsettle the 'big six' - or should I say the big seven - after appointing the excellent Unai Emery, ending last season superbly and signing well this summer after securing European football.
We battered them 4-0 when the two sides met last at St James' Park (just before Emery arrive), yet suffered our most convincing defeat of the 2022/23 season back in April, where they outplayed us in every department in that 3-0 loss at Villa Park.
It promises to be a real tactical battle and immediate test of both teams' mettle. I can't wait to be back at St James' Park, to feel the atmosphere, hear local hero as the players walk out, see Wor Flags and that all-action style Eddie Howe demands as our new signings bust a gut to make an impression in front of 52,000 fans. Our record on Tyneside has been outstanding over the past 18 months and there'd be nothing better than an opening day win to get that black and white ball rolling again!
Team news
Eddie Howe has confirmed that Fabian Schar is fit and available, as things stand, after training well this week, suggesting he's recovered from a hamstring concern that forced him off in our Summer Series draw with Chelsea.
Joe Willock (hamstring) and Emil Krafth (ACL) will miss out after failing to feature in any of our seven pre-season games, although it's hoped both will be back in full training soon.
For Villa, Emi Buendia has been ruled out with an ACL injury. Jacob Ramsey (ankle) remains out, alongside Bertrand Traore and Leander Dendoncker, but former Toon target Moussa Diaby is in line to make his Premier League debut.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Joelinton – Almiron, Isak, Gordon.
For me, Eddie Howe is facing three big dilemmas:
- Anderson, Longstaff or Tonali to start alongside Bruno and Joelinton?
- Gordon or Barnes on the left?
- Wilson or Isak up top?
I still think there's a slim chance Isak plays on the left, allowing both him and Wilson - last season's top scorer - to start. However, I think Howe will go with Longstaff, Gordon and Isak from those options.
In midfield, Longstaff was a big miss when we were overrun in that 3-0 defeat at Villa Park in April. Like most overseas signings, I expect Howe to ease Tonali, but it would be harsh on Anderson. He's been our player of pre-season, but hasn't played on the right side of a midfield three much. If you move him to the left, you mess with Joelinton's best position; where he supports our left winger and protect Dan Burn so well.
On the left, Barnes' brace on Sunday was a reminder that he's currently more clinical than Gordon, but the latter looks up to speed physically and full of confidence. He's had months to get used to our system, our pressing and what Howe demands from his wingers, giving him the edge on Barnes; who didn't feature in several of Leicester's friendlies before signing a few weeks ago. For me, Howe will look to build on Gordon's improved confidence and fitness levels, while also giving Barnes a chance to improve his fitness levels and understanding of the team dynamic.
Up top it's so hard to call and such a tough choice when both are fit. However, if only one can start and Isak isn't used on the left, I can't see Howe leaving out our club-record signing. Not only that, he started alongside Gordon and Almiron against Fiorentina, meaning the trio I'm backing to start on Saturday have already had some experience of playing together.
Aston Villa predicted XI: Martinez - Cash, Konsa, Mings, Torres - McGinn, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, Philogene - Diaby, Watkins.
One to watch: Moussa Diaby - Heavily linked with a move to Newcastle over the past 18 months but ended up sealing a club-record move to Villa. Has already impressed over pre-season, has bags of pace and will look to test us in behind and out wide.
Prediction
I'm expecting a tough game, but so will Aston Villa! St James' Park is finally a fortress again; something Eddie Howe will be desperate to maintain as we step into a 2023/24 season full of fresh challenges.
I think they'll score, look far more solid than they did on their last trip to Tyneside and have the pace to cause our back four problems, but I expect our intensity to be too much, our high-press to force errors and our midfield three to win the battle they lost when we last met in April.
Isak and Almiron to score in a tight but entertaining opener on Tyneside!
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Aston Villa
HWTL!
