Newcastle United and Aston Villa will each be seeking to bounce again after disappointing Premier League outcomes final weekend once they meet at St James’ Park on Sunday (14:00 GMT).
Newcastle had been unable to discover a breakthrough in opposition to backside membership Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 0-0 draw, persevering with their woes on the street this season. On dwelling soil, they’ve been far more efficient and might be boosted by a 3-0 win over PSV Eindhoven within the Champions League in midweek.
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Qualification for the Europa League knockout stage was the optimistic from a tough week for Aston Villa. Their 11-game dwelling profitable run was ended by Everton final weekend, and so they then acquired the brutal information that key midfielder Boubacar Kamara is about to overlook the remainder of the season via damage.
Woltemade and Wissa nonetheless strangers
Though Newcastle have been sturdy at dwelling this season, a lot of their attacking output recently has come from midfield and vast areas.
Bruno Guimaraes, who’s a doubt for this sport due to an ankle damage, is their main league scorer with eight targets and could be an enormous miss. Newcastle have by no means received a top-flight match he has missed.
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Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa are the principle striker choices, however each have discovered life troublesome domestically.
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Since Wissa made his debut after recovering full health, Newcastle have lacked a constant focus up entrance. He has managed only one aim within the high flight to this point, whereas Woltemade has scored in solely certainly one of his previous 14 video games – a brace within the 2-2 draw with Chelsea.
Wissa was spectacular on his Champions League debut in midweek, grabbing a aim and an help within the win over PSV, and will earn one other begin this weekend because of this.
Might Eddie Howe probably pair the duo in an try to spark them each into life? At this stage, it seems unlikely. Remarkably, of the 268 minutes Wissa has performed within the Premier League for Newcastle to this point, Woltemade has been on the pitch for none of them.
Villa face crucial second as midfield falls aside
After the week they’ve endured, it feels as if Villa’s marketing campaign has reached a defining stage.
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Not solely will they be with out the imperious Kamara for the foreseeable future, however captain and driving power John McGinn can also be going through a spell on the sidelines after his damage in opposition to Everton.
Amadou Onana returned in its place in opposition to Fenerbahce on Thursday however the lack of midfield choices seems to be having a knock-on impact in assault too. Morgan Rogers had six photographs in opposition to Everton, his most in a sport for Villa with out scoring, and he has now had extra photographs than any participant (15) since Christmas and not using a aim.
Villa had scored in 10 consecutive Premier League video games earlier than travelling to Crystal Palace. They’ve now failed to attain of their final two and the sale of Donyell Malen leaves Ollie Watkins as the one senior striker.
Even with a fully-fit squad, Villa don’t relish journeys to Newcastle. The Magpies haven’t misplaced to Villa of their final 17 dwelling league conferences, profitable the final 4 at St James’ Park by an combination rating of 13-1.