Crystal Palace (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction
Storm Babet has hit the UK but there's been a dark cloud over Newcastle United for the past week, with the ongoing betting investigation surrounding Sandro Tonali dominating the international break.
I feel for him and hope he comes back stronger. One thing's for sure, he'll receive huge support at St James' Park on Saturday, which may sadly be his last appearance for the club for some time.
Crystal Palace are this weekend's opponents and arrive following a solid start to the season. They've kept clean sheets in each of their last three league games, with only Arsenal and Man City bettering their defensive record so far (seven goals conceded in eight games).
I expect them to sit deep in an attempt to frustrate us. All three of our meetings last season ended 0-0 and they'll be without star attackers Ebere Eze and Michael Olise, so it may well be attack vs defence here.
We often struggled to break down low blocks last season, but we should arrive full of confidence after scoring 17 goals in our last five games. With Anthony Gordon back and a few returning from injuries, I just hope we can keep the momentum going and overcome a challenge that's sometimes stumped us in the past.
Team news
Howe has confirmed that Sandro Tonali is available for selection after training twice this week, Joelinton (hamstring) and Anthony Gordon (suspension) look set to return, Alexander Isak (groin) is facing a late fitness test, Sven Botman (knee) remains a doubt despite recovering well over the break.
Joe Willock (Achilles) is back in training but not ready to feature in the squad just yet, Lewis Miley is out with glandular fever and Bruno Guimaraes is one booking away from suspension.
For the visitors, Ebere Eze and Michael Olise remain out with hamstring injuries, but Cheick Doucouré, Jefferson Lerma, Joel Ward, Naouirou Ahamada and Matheus França are all in contention to return.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Joelinton - Almiron, Wilson, Gordon.
It's always tough to second guess Eddie Howe when he shares injury updates the day before a game. He said Isak will have a late fitness test after failing to train this week and gave little away on Botman.
However, with Dortmund to come on Wednesday, I think he'll stick with Lascelles and recall a fit-again Wilson, saving Botman and Isak for the Champions League next week.
In midfield, Joelinton's return from a hamstring injury means he could replace Tonali if the Italian isn't in the right state of mind to play. After so many emotions, police interrogations, the prospect of a 12 month ban, limited training time (two sessions all week) and trips back and forth to Italy, I'm not convinced he'll start.
Elsewhere, I fully expect Gordon to come back into the side on our left, with the winger back after serving his one match ban in our 2-2 draw at West Ham two weeks ago.
Predicted Crystal Palace XI: Johnstone - Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell - Doucoure, Lerma, Hughes - Ayew, Mateta, Edouard.
Ones to watch: Joachim Andersen – The Danish centre-back was targeted by Newcastle over the summer, only for a £40m price tag to prove too much. He takes no nonsense, is a brilliant passer from the back and a threat from set pieces, scoring the winner in their last away outing at Old Trafford.
Prediction
We haven't scored against Palace in our last three meetings, but that doesn't tell the full story. In this fixture last season, we were denied a perfectly good goal as VAR ignored the blatant push on Joe Willock just moments before Tyrick Mitchell's own-goal.
Palace are a solid team - they'll benefit from the return of Doucoure and Lerma and have one of the best CB pairings outside the 'big six' in Andersen and Guehi - but they don't have much to trouble us at the other end with Eze and Olise both out.
Wilson and Gordon to get back on the scoresheet in a comfortable win for Eddie Howe's Mags.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-0 Crystal Palace
HWTL!!
