After a flat atmosphere and frustrating result on Wednesday night, Newcastle are back in Premier League action with a trip to Wolves on Saturday tea time.
We had the chances to grab what would’ve been a precious point, but the woodwork, one big miss from Wilson and some stubborn Dortmund defending kept us out.
Injuries on the night were arguably the most disappointing outcome, limiting our ability to rotate here. However, we have won four of our last five league games to nil, battered Crystal Palace last weekend and will be keen to bounce back to regain that momentum we’ve created over the past few months.
Gary O’Neil’s side are unbeaten in their last four league games – despite facing the likes of Man City and Aston Villa. They didn’t have a game in midweek and won at Bournemouth last weekend, so they’ll be no pushovers for a Newcastle side keen to get back on track after that damaging Dortmund defeat.
Team news
Sandro Tonali’s suspension has now begun after FIFA confirmed his 10-month ban on Friday night, with Alexander Isak (groin), Jacob Murphy (dislocated shoulder), Elliot Anderson (back), Sven Botman (knee), Lewis Miley (glandular fever) and Harvey Barnes (foot) also missing.
Joe Willock is fit again but it remains to be seen if he’s fit enough to start after his surprise cameo against Dortmund.
For Wolves, right-back Nelson Semedo and midfielder Mario Lemina are back from suspension after missing last week’s 2-1 win at Bournemouth.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Joelinton – Almiron, Wilson, Gordon.
With Tonali and Anderson ruled out, Howe must decide whether to start Joelinton or Joe Willock in that left-sided midfield slot. Joelinton looked rusty in midweek and it may be a risk to play three times in a week so soon after returning from injury, but the same applies to Willock after he made his first appearance for five months off the bench in midweek.
If he’s fit enough to start, Willock’s pace, energy and threat on the counter could be a huge weapon. However, I think Howe may play the slightly safer option in Joelinton.
Botman is still not ready and I don’t see Howe changing a defence that’s kept four clean sheets in our last five, so I expect the likes of Lascelles and Burn to keep their place. With that in mind, it may be the same side who started on Wednesday, aside from Wilson replacing the injured Isak.
Wolves’ one to watch: Pedro Neto – The Portuguese winger looks back to his best and is without doubt their biggest danger man. An electric dribbler and extremely creative so far this season, with he and Kieran Trippier top of the assist charts on six.
Predicted Wolves XI: Sa – Kilman, Dawson, Toti – Semedo, Lemina, Gomes, Ait-Nouri – Neto, Cunha, Hwang.
Prediction
Injuries are catching up with us and we aren’t really in a position to rotate much this weekend as a result.
Wolves have beaten Man City and drawn with Aston Villa in their last two home games and have had more time to prepare with no game in midweek, so I’m going for a low-scoring draw in this one.
Prediction: Wolves 1-1 Newcastle
HWTL!
Olly, you asked on the last thread about punctuation and dodgy symbols etc. I put this before I realised there was a new thread
I just went to one of your other recent articles Olly, and it looked ok in terms of symbols etc. all fonts, punctuation marks etc, seem to be ok
This thread also looks ok, but my details are missing again! (Good article, btw), but Tonali just confirmed as banned. So not available sadly.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
All good for me so far Olly.
Have a bad feeling for this game, we are really beset with injuries now and Neto is a huge threat . Gutted for Tonali , that’s a long ban it could just as easily have been an injury that put him out for 10 months. We may as well call it a year as it will take a couple months to get match fit after that long out.
Considering we are away and injury ravaged then a draw would be excellent and PLEASE no more injuries or any red cards.
kimtoon(Quote)
Challenging times given the injuries and tonali.
Thought EH was good at yesterdays conference balancing emotion and info against tough questions .
Onto the game, these are the ones that elite teams win. So if nufc want to be elite they’ll need to do so
Maybe we’ll begin to see a little more of livramento and hall and it’s good to see willock playing again so the team may soon be a little different to what we’re used to seeing.
Feel a bit sorry for Anderson with his injury keeping him out for a couple months
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
We may well see more of young Miley too, once he gets over his illness. His chance to shine. Of the January replacements that have been touted, I’d be ok with either Phillips or Neves on loan. I’d prefer Neves but either would do a decent job I think. Hoping for win, even a scrappy 1-0. These are the games we need to win if we are to keep in touch with the top. Villa are excellent this season, and Spurs and LiVARpool much improved, so top 4 will be very tough.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Comments still missing …
Gilly Toon(Quote)
This new free signing , Tony Ali, seems canny mind! 😂😂😂
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly, lol .. I saw Tony Ali links too .. good stuffðŸ˜
Yup must admit I overlooked Miley just yet due to his illness but yup this could be a good season for him too
Yup very difficult to repeat last year as 8-11 teams looking pretty strong for the top half including Chelsea who are still finding their way under pochettino but doubt they’ll be far away come the business end of the season
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
5 defenders and 2 goalies on the bench 😬😳. Only Willock and Ritchie as any kind of attacking reinforcements. Perhaps Hall can come into midfield. Worrying times.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Any injury to Wilson, Gordon or Miggy and we are playing the kids 😬
Gilly Toon(Quote)
HWTL
kimtoon(Quote)
GET INNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
Wilson
kimtoon(Quote)
nice while it lasted
1.1
kimtoon(Quote)
Good first half. I think we got a bit lucky with the penalty, a tad soft but we’ve had them against us so I’ll take it. I hope we can get the win. Wolves look very good and fast too.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Agh, if only Pope had caught that ball! I’ll take a draw, up really, we should’ve won that.
Gilly Toon(Quote)