Wolves (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line up and prediction
A season that threatened to fizzle out in early December is now full of hope and excitement, with Sunday's 3-1 win over Bromley making it EIGHT wins on the spin for Newcastle United.
It's the first time since 1976 that Newcastle, while in the first division, have been still alive in the League Cup and FA Cup heading into February, where semi-final and fourth round ties await against Arsenal and Birmingham.
As for the league, we return to Premier League action this week with back-to-back home games against Wolves and Bournemouth, handing us a big chance to keep the run going and consolidate our hopes of a top-four finish.
With 23 goals and just three conceded in our last eight, this is an opportunity we can't waste to build even more momentum, especially when a trip to Southampton follows this double-header at St James' Park.
Should Alexander Isak score again, he'll land a club record by scoring in eight consecutive Premier League games just a week after picking up the Player of the Month award for December.
Talking of records, beat Wolves and Eddie Howe would match the nine-straight wins achieved Kevin Keegan (1993/94) and Rafa Benitez (2016/17), while 10-straight victories has NEVER been done by any Toon boss.
Howe’s pre-match comments
On keeping the run going - "I think for me, I know it's boring but, it is game by game and it is trying to keep our focus on what we can affect which is.
On Barnes’ injury – “He’s had a scan. It’s not too bad but he will miss the upcoming games. We’re looking at around a month.”
On Isak, Botman, Willock and Murphy – “We’ll have a look at them again today. “They were left out with genuine reasons, all different things, but nothing major we hope. So minor problems that we needed to settle down. Fingers crossed they’ll be there or thereabouts.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4s3ccVo82A
Team news
Alexander Isak (tight hamstring) is due to train for the first time since Arsenal on Tuesday and should be OK, with Howe hopeful Jacob Murphy, Sven Botman and Joe Willock will return.
Harvey Barnes (thigh) is facing a month out, while Nick Pope (knee), Callum Wilson (hamstring) and Jamaal Lascelles (ACL) look set to miss out again. Emil Krafth could return to the squad.
For Wolves, top scorer and star man Matheus Cunha is back from a ban, while Nelson Semedo and Craig Dawson may be fit to return. Toti Gomes remains out and Mario Lemina has recovered from illness.
Predicted line-up
(4-3-3): Dubravka - Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall - Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton - Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
Most of the team picks itself after this incredible run of eight-straight wins and I think Isak and Murphy will be fit enough to start after rests on Sunday.
One tough position to predict, however, is at centre-back, with Howe spoilt with three great options to fill two spots. Schar is back from a ban, Burn is in brilliant form and Botman is fit again and should be ready to play after he was given the afternoon off against Bromley.
With Botman feeling his groin slightly at Arsenal, Burn virtually undroppable (Howe's own words in a recent press conference) and Schar's ability to play out from the back key against teams we should be beating at home, I think it'll be the Swiss alongside our big man from Blyth.
Botman has been superb and he'll be back in the side before long, but you could argue that the centre-back spots are Schar's and Burn's to lose, for now at least.
Match prediction
The first of two winnable home games at St James' Park and I think we'll keep the great run going here.
Wolves should've scored a couple in last Monday's 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest and they'll have star man Matheus Cunha back from a ban. But, they are also without a few first-choice defenders, so I can't see them stopping Alexander Isak and fancy us to win the midfield battle.
Prediction: Newcastle 3-1 Wolves
Howay the lads!
