Two of the Premier League's form sides meet in Saturday's early kickoff, as Aston Villa aim to extend their four-match success streak at the expense of Champions League-chasing Newcastle United.
The Magpies arrive at Villa Park on the back of five straight wins, which sees them occupy third place in the table, while Villa's evolution under Unai Emery continued with victory over Nottingham Forest last weekend.
Match preview
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Only days after leaving the bench to score Aston Villa's last-gasp winner at Leicester City, Bertrand Traore once again proved the Birmingham side's 'supersub' last time out, as he broke the deadlock in a 2-0 win against struggling Nottingham Forest.
Having replaced the injured Leon Bailey midway through the first half, Traore struck just after the break and red-hot Ollie Watkins then sealed the deal with a second goal in stoppage time, elevating Villa into the Premier League's top six.
Since Unai Emery's first game in charge last November, only his former club Arsenal have picked up more points and earned more wins in the top flight as Villa have posted 11 league wins and 35 points to surge up the standings and into European contention.
Having won each of their last four matches, they will now aim to record five straight top-flight victories for the first time this century - John Gregory was still in charge at Villa Park when they last achieved such a feat.
Emery could quite easily have been sat in the opposition dugout this weekend, as he rejected an approach from Newcastle's owners in 2021 when still at Villarreal, but having ultimately moved to the Midlands he has helped Villa close the gap to their North-East counterparts down to three places and nine points.
Ahead of the Villans' final eight fixtures - seven of which will come against teams also in the top half of the table - they have scored at least once in all 17 of his previous Premier League games.
Only two managers have ever seen their side score in each of their first 18 matches in the competition - Mike Walker with Norwich in 1992 and Chelsea's Carlo Ancelotti in 2009 - and Emery could join their esteemed company on Saturday afternoon.
Team News
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Due to a hamstring injury sustained last week, Leon Bailey is set to miss out for Aston Villa on Saturday, joining Philippe Coutinho and Boubacar Kamara on the sidelines.
Matty Cash (calf) also remains unavailable for the hosts, who will again turn to the vastly experienced Ashley Young to deputise at right-back.
Aside from Bertrand Traore possibly being promoted from the bench to replace Bailey, Villa could be unchanged, with Ollie Watkins starting up front in pursuit of his 10th goal in 12 league appearances.
Long-term absentee Emil Krafth remains unavailable for Newcastle United, while Allan Saint-Maximin will now be out for several weeks with a hamstring problem.
Miguel Almiron, though, could return from a thigh injury, while Bruno Guimaraes will again play through the pain of an ankle issue.
Set to keep his place ahead of fellow forward Callum Wilson, Alexander Isak has scored in each of Newcastle's last three Premier League away games, recording four goals in total during that spell.
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Young, Konsa, Mings, Moreno; McGinn, Luiz; Traore, Buendia, Ramsey; Watkins
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock; Murphy, Isak, Joelinton
We say: Aston Villa 1-1 Newcastle United
Boasting the best defensive record in the Premier League, Newcastle will fancy their chances of shutting out an increasingly potent Villa side. However, under Unai Emery, their hosts' confidence at Villa Park has grown by the week, so the Magpies may be restricted to a single point.
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Top tip
Jonathan O'Shea
