Eddie Howe reunites with former club Bournemouth as his Newcastle United side welcome the Cherries to St James' Park for a Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon.
The Magpies will be seeking revenge as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Andoni Iraola's side at the Vitality Stadium in mid-November.
Match preview
© Reuters
After rescuing a point in a thrilling 4-4 home draw with Luton Town, Newcastle returned to winning ways when they beat Nottingham Forest 3-2 at the City Ground last weekend to boost their hopes of securing European football for next season.
The Magpies were pegged back twice in the first half as goals from Forest duo Anthony Elanga and Callum Hudson-Odoi cancelled out strikes from Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar, but man-of-the-match Guimaraes secured maximum points for the visitors with a stunning strike on the 66-minute mark.
Seven points have been accumulated by Newcastle in their last three games which has helped them climb to seventh in the Premier League table, and although their top-four aspirations may be hanging by a thread – sitting 11 points adrift of Tottenham Hotspur in fourth – Europa League qualification remains firmly in their sights as they are only five points behind Manchester United in sixth spot with 14 matches remaining.
The major cause for concern from Howe's perspective will be how his side have conceded 16 goals in their last six league matches – almost half the amount that they shipped in the whole of last season (33). In each of their last three home fixtures, the Magpies have conceded at least three goals, as many as in their previous 16 games at St James' Park combined.
Newcastle can ill-afford another leaky defensive display if they are to come out on top against a Bournemouth outfit whom they have beaten just three times in their last 10 top-flight meetings, failing to keen a single clean sheet in the process.
© Reuters
Bournemouth enter Saturday's contest having not celebrated a Premier League victory since Boxing Day when they beat Fulham 3-0 on home soil. The Cherries have since put together a five-match winless run, which was extended courtesy of a 3-1 defeat at Craven Cottage last weekend.
After going two goals down at half time, Marcos Senesi pulled one back for Bournemouth five minutes after the break, but Fulham restored their two-goal cushion just two minutes later through Rodrigo Muniz, who netted his second goal of the match to ultimately condemn the Cherries to their 10th league defeat of the season.
A dip in form for Iraola's men has derailed their push for a top-half finish and they have subsequently slipped to 13th place in the table, seven points behind Chelsea in 10th spot, while there are no immediate fears of entering the relegation picture as they sit eight points clear of the bottom three.
Finding the back of the net has not been an issue for Bournemouth as they have scored at least once in 14 of their last 15 Premier League games, netting 26 goals in total. Away from home, the Cherries have scored in each of their last eight matches (15 goals in total) which is their longest such run on the road in the top flight.
Bournemouth will certainly fancy their chances of making the net ripple against Newcastle on Saturday, as they endeavour to end a three-game winless streak at St James' Park and complete their first league double over the Magpies at the seventh time of asking.
Team News
© Reuters
Newcastle have been dealt a significant injury blow as striker Callum Wilson is facing up to 12 weeks on the sidelines after being told he requires surgery on a pectoral tendon injury sustained in last weekend's win at Forest; fellow striker Alexander Isak, meanwhile, is a major doubtful with a groin problem according to Howe.
Joe Willock (calf), Elliot Anderson (back) and Matt Targett (hamstring) are all closing in on a return, but Saturday's game will come too soon for the trio, while Nick Pope (shoulder) and Sandro Tonali (suspended) remain unavailable for selection.
Anthony Gordon could be tasked with operating as a central striker in the absence of both Wilson and Isak, while winger Harvey Barnes could be handed his first start since September after making two substitute appearances since recovering from a foot injury.
As for Bournemouth, Romain Faivre will miss the trip to St James' Park through illness, while Tyler Adams, Max Aarons (both thigh), Ryan Fredericks (calf), James Hill (ankle) and Darren Randolph (illness) are also in the treatment room.
Philip Billing will serve the second of his three-match suspension this weekend, so Iraola could stick with Ryan Christie, Lewis Cook and Alex Scott in a three-man midfield, although Justin Kluivert will be pushing to return in an advanced role.
New recruit Enes Unal made his Cherries debut as a second-half substitute against Fulham and the Turkish striker is in contention to feature again on Saturday, although he is not expected to displace top scorer Dominic Solanke, who scored a brace against Newcastle earlier this season.
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Miley, Guimaraes, Longstaff; Almiron, Gordon, Barnes
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Neto; Smith, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kelly; Christie, Cook; Tavernier, Kluivert, Sinisterra; Solanke
We say: Newcastle United 3-2 Bournemouth
Recent meetings between these two sides have been tight affairs, but a more expansive approach could be taken by both Howe and Iraola this weekend, which could lead to plenty of goalmouth action at St James' Park.
Newcastle's leaky backline could struggle to keep Bournemouth quiet in the final third, but the Magpies may just do enough to outscore their opponents en route to claiming three important points, even if Isak is not deemed fit to feature.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
