The first of our final four games and it's a tricky one for Newcastle United, who travel to a stadium we've not won at since Mo Diame's freak goal in 2017!
Brighton have beaten us twice this season in tight wins at St James' Park, but we have already shown our ability to rise to the occasion this season, winning at Wembley in March and picking up 20 wins in our last 26 since early December.
Man City's 1-0 win over Wolves last night means we dropped to fourth on Friday night, yet there was a big opportunity missed from top five rivals Nottingham Forest on Thursday, who missed their chance to move above us with a 2-0 defeat at home to Brentford.
But, on a weekend where Aston Villa face Fulham and Chelsea take on Liverpool, we have to focus on ourselves first and foremost. It's in our hands and we'll take another massive step towards the Champions League if we can leave the South Coast with three more points on Sunday.
Howe's pre-match comments
On final four games - "You want to be in control of your destiny. I think with four games to go we are, but we're very aware it can change in one round of games. There's no let up for us. Our run of results has been impressive but what we don't want to do is tail off right at the end so tough fixtures to come but we believe in the team."
On Joelinton's injury - "The likelihood is that it will be difficult [if he will play again this season]. But with Joe you never rule him out. He's so motivated to try and come back. He had a bit of discomfort in his knee last week before the game so we sought specialist opinion and the opinion was it was nothing serious but he needed a period of rest so he's now in Brazil. We'll wait and see if we can get him back before the end of the season but the likelihood is probably not."
On Brighton test - "I think we always have a tough game against Brighton. We've had some good results at St. James' Park, historically, but not so much this season with the two games we lost. I thought they were really tight and could have gone either way.
"They're a very good team, it's a good atmosphere and it's good for the away team as it's a lovely pitch. We would back ourselves against anybody but certainly know we're going to have to play at our very best because it's never an easy game there."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87ZGvVdEz08&ab_channel=NewcastleUnited
Team news
Joelinton is 'unlikely' to play again this season, meaning Joe Willock is in line to step into the side, while Sven Botman has trained all week and will be pushing for a start along with a fit-again Anthony Gordon.
Jamaal Lascelles remains out along with Lewis Hall, with Matt Targett (hamstring) also expected to sit out the final four games following another injury.
Brighton welcome back Jan Paul van Hecke, Karou Mitoma, Joël Veltman, Tariq Lamptey and Igor, but Joao Pedro is suspended and Georginio Rutter injured. Former Mag Yankuba Minteh could start down their right.
Predicted line-up
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento – Guimaraes, Tonali, Willock – Murphy, Isak, Barnes.
Much of the talk this week has centred around who replaces Joelinton in midfield. Many have called for Lewis Miley, but Howe's pre-match comments suggest Joe Willock will get a run in the side.
Howe insists he still has a lot of faith in the former Arsenal man and hinted on Friday morning that a run of games could be key to get the ball-carrying midfielder get back to his best.
He didn't grab the game against Ipswich's 10 men last weekend and needs to step up in big Joe's absence, so let's hope we start to see the best of little Joe in the coming weeks.
Elsewhere, the only other dilemma centres around Anthony Gordon. He'll be back into the side before long, but I think we'll see Barnes given the nod again here.
Match prediction
Believe it or not, we haven't drawn ANY of our last 27 games, with our last coming in a 3-3 against Liverpool way back on December 4th.
I was tempted to go with a 2-2 draw, but Brighton have conceded 15 goals in their last six games and have only won one of their previous seven, with that victory coming thanks to two last-gasp strikes against West Ham last weekend.
If Isak can rediscover his shooting boots and Willock can step up in Joelinton's absence, I think we'll edge them out and pile the pressure on Chelsea in Sunday's 4pm kick-off.
Prediction: Brighton 1-2 Newcastle
Howay the lads!
