Burnley (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction
What a brilliant month it's been at Newcastle United. It started so poorly at Brighton - which confirmed three straight defeats and just two clean sheets in our last 22 - but we've bounced back superbly.
An ugly but vital 1-0 win over Brentford was followed by a gutsy point at AC Milan, then came that incredible 8-0 mauling at Bramall Lane and Eddie Howe's first win over Pep Guardiola on Wednesday, setting up a Carabao Cup fourth round tie with Man Utd!
Injuries and niggles are starting to add up - an inevitable downside of such an intense and hectic schedule - but confidence, positivity and clean sheets (four on the spin!) have returned ahead of Burnley's trip to St James' Park.
It's our first Saturday 3pm kick-off since April and another chance to keep the run going. Not only could a win send us into the top six if other results go our way, it would build even more momentum ahead of next Wednesday's Champions League clash with PSG.
Vincent Kompany's Clarets have struggled so far, despite being the easiest on the eye of the three newly-promoted clubs. However, they've picked up just one points from their opening five games, conceding 13 goals in the process.
Team news
Harvey Barnes (toe) has been ruled out for THREE months after a freak injury underneath his toe, while Callum Wilson (tight hamstring), Sven Botman (knee) and Alexander Isak (calf tightness) will all have late fitness tests.
Bruno Guimaraes (ankle) and Dan Burn (ill) are expecte to be OK, Joelinton is available for the first league game since that loss to Brighton, but Joe Willock (Achilles) and Emil Krafth (ACL) remain out, with the latter featuring for the U21s on Friday night.
For the visitors, midfielder Manuel Benson (ankle) will miss out alongside suspended striker Lyle Foster, with winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson a doubt.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope - Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn - Longstaff, Bruno, Anderson - Almiron, Wilson, Gordon.
After 10 changes in midweek, I'm expecting Howe to revert back to the side that blew Sheffield United away last Sunday; aside from the injured Harvey Barnes.
I expect Trippier, Schar, Botman - who is expected to pass a late fitness test - and Burn to return in defence and think Elliot Anderson will keep his place, despite Joelinton's return to full fitness.
Anderson has started our last two Premier League games and performed very well in both. I also believe we'll save Joelinton for next week's Champions League showdown with PSG and can't see him starting three games in seven days after only just returning from a knee injury. Tonali played the full 90 against Man City and is still building his fitness, so he too could be saved for PSG.
In attack, Wilson should return, provided his 'tight hamstring' has settled down. He loves playing Burnley and should be flanked by Almiron and Gordon.
Predicted Burnley XI: Trafford - Roberts, Al Dakhil, Beyer, Taylor, Ramsey, Cullen, Brownhill, Berge, Koleosho, Amdouni.
Ones to watch: Luca Koleosho - The 19-year-old winger has been Burnley's biggest bright spark whenever I've watched them this season. He can play down either flank, has quick feet and bags of pace. Could be one to keep an eye on this weekend, especially if they get him running at Dan Burn.
Prediction
It's not Burnley's style under Kompany to sit back and hope for a point, so I think this could be an open game with plenty of goals in it.
I think they might just end our run of clean sheets, but I'm backing us to get back amongst the goals. Wilson to score twice in a convincing win for Eddie Howe's Mags!
Prediction: Newcastle 4-1 Burnley
HWTL!
