Brighton (A) – Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible XI and prediction

The international break is over, and Newcastle United will be looking to pick up from where they left off.

It felt like we'd built some genuine momentum for the first time this season after back-to-back wins over Union SG and Nottingham Forest earlier this month, scoring six and conceding zero across both games.

Next up is a tricky trip to Brighton and a place we've not won since Mo Diame's fortunate flick in 2017. But, while history suggests we rarely win at the AMEX, this is an opportunity to build on recent results and kick on heading into a winnable set of league games, with  Fulham (14th), West Ham (19th) and Brentford (16th) to come in our following three league games.

Although we ended our away-day drought with four goals in Belgium a fortnight ago, Newcastle must also start scoring goals on the road. After 0-0 draws at Aston Villa, Leeds and Bournemouth so far, the challenge now is to maintain that defensive resilience while adding goals at the other end, with our wingers needing to step up and support Nick Woltemade, who has three goals in his last four.

Team news

Jacob Ramsey will return to the squad for the first time since our 0-0 draw at Leeds, while Joelinton should be OK despite a "little concern" over his groin after returning from Brazil duty.

Lewis Hall (hamstring), Tino Livramento (knee) and Yoane Wissa (knee) all remain out, but Howe offered a positive update on all three during Friday's press conference.

Lewis Miley (calf) is expected to be OK, despite withdrawing from England Under-21 duty as a precautionary measure last week, with Dan Burn also fine to play after breaking a bone in his hand.

For the visitors, winger Karou Mitoma and Joel Veltman are back in training but both doubts. Diego Gomez is expected to be fine despite coming off for Paraguay with a knock this week. Gruda, March, Hinshelwood and Webster are all out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NChBN5VRp8M

Predicted XI

(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn – Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon.

With Hall and Livramento both ruled out, we can expect to see Dan Burn at left-back once again. It's an area Brighton could target, with Yankuba Minteh in form and posing a mismatch from a pace perspective.

However, we have only conceded in two of our seven league games so far this season, and have looked even stronger defensively since Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman began what looks to be a formidable centre-back pairing.

The midfield trio of Bruno Guimares, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali looks here to stay, even if Ramsey will return to the squad, but I do think there'll be one change in attack.

Anthony Gordon and Nick Woltemade will be hoping to kick on after both scoring for their country this week, although it wasn't quite the same story for Anthony Elanga, who didn't start either game for Sweden and struggled in our 2-0 win over Forest last time out.

I actually think Brighton away could suit Elanga's pace and ability to cause chaos on the break, I just think we'll see Jacob Murphy return down that right side after missing out on Howe's XI over our last two games.

Match prediction

Brighton have beaten Man City and drawn against Spurs and Fulham in their three home games so far, also winning 3-1 at Chelsea in a recent away game.

They are a decent side who we've often struggled against, so this feels like a good test of our ability to kick on and start winning games away from home after three-straight stalemates on the road so far.

Hoping for a big win, but my money would be on draw and perhaps a decent point if we can kick on in the coming weeks against Fulham, West Ham and Brentford.

Prediction: Brighton 1-1 Newcastle

Howay the lads!