Newcastle United welcome Burnley to St James’ Park as both teams look to consolidate their position in the midtable fight.
Newcastle can potentially climb to 13th with victory, whilst Burnley can move up to eighth if they take a win here.
Team news
Embed from Getty ImagesValentino Lazaro is suspended for Newcastle after being sent off in last week’s defeat at Crystal Palace.
Christian Atsu (illness) and Jonjo Shelvey (hamstring) could be in contention if they can pass late fitness tests, although Emil Krafth remains sidelined with an ankle injury but could return next weekend against Southampton.
Ciaran Clark (ankle), Jack Colback, Jetro Willems (both knee), Paul Dummett (tendon) and Andy Carroll (groin) are sidelined indefinitely.
Burnley will be hoping that Chris Wood is available after missing last weekend’s home win against Bournemouth with a hamstring injury.
Johann Berg Gudmundsson (hamstring) and Ashley Barnes (groin) won’t be risked here as they near a first-team return, whilst Matt Lowton (knee) and Ben Gibson (fitness) remain sidelined.
Form
Newcastle enter this match with one win in their last nine league matches (W1, D3, L5), although they have only scored three goals this month which all came in a 3-2 away win at Oxford United in their FA Cup Fourth Round replay.
Burnley arrive on Tyneside unbeaten in their last five league outings (W4, D1), scoring twice in each of their last two away trips.
Stat Attack
- Newcastle are unbeaten in three of their last five league meetings against Burnley (W2, D1, L2).
- Burnley have failed to win in any of their last six trips to St James’ Park (D3, L3).
- Two of Newcastle’s last three home goals against Burnley have come from defenders – Jamaal Lascelles in January 2018 & Fabian Schar in February 2019.
- There is yet to be a red card dished out in this Premier League fixture after seven previous clashes.
- Newcastle have won the only penalty to be rewarded in seven previous Premier League meetings against Burnley, although they eventually missed meaning that none of the 17 Premier League goals in this fixture came from penalty spot.
Prediction
Newcastle are starting to become a concern because they currently lack any real creativity, irrespective of their injury crisis which doesn’t seem to be lifting much ahead of a fixture like this.
Burnley meanwhile have found some solid form so I am expecting them to come and take the game to the Magpies given the current contrast in creative quality across the pitch.
The Clarets however haven’t fared well on recent trips to St James’ Park and with Newcastle’s stubborn defence, this will be a difficult test but if they have patience then I can see a smash and grab winner here.
Prediction: Newcastle United 0-1 Burnley
Result: Newcastle United 0-0 Burnley
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