Newcastle United welcome Tottenham Hotspur to St James’ Park in a blockbuster Super Sunday clash as a new era on Tyneside begins, just as the Magpies’ Steve Bruce takes charge of his 1000th match as a manager.
Victory will see Newcastle climb out of the relegation zone, whilst Tottenham can go as high as fifth with a win.
Team News
Joe Willock is set to be available for Newcastle after recovering from a hip injury suffered in their defeat at Wolves just prior to the international break.
Freddie Woodman, Jamal Lascelles (both muscle) and Callum Wilson (thigh) are also in contention to start but Martin Dubravka (foot) and Paul Dummett (calf) remains absent.
Tottenham will hand late fitness tests to Ben Davies and Matt Doherty after the pair suffered respective illness and knock whilst on international duty.
Cristian Romero, Davinson Sanchez, Giovani Lo Celso and Emerson Royal all also face late fitness tests after returning late from international duty for various South American teams.
Steven Bergwijn (ankle) is a doubt but Ryan Sessegnon (knock) is ruled out alongside two unnamed players who tested positive for Coronavirus.
Stat Attack
- Newcastle have won just one of their last five meetings against Tottenham (W1, D2, L2).
- Tottenham have lost just one of their last seven visits to St James’ Park (W5, D1, L1).
- Spurs have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four meetings against Newcastle (W1, D2, L1).
- Two of Newcastle’s eight league goals this season have been scored from outside of the box.
- Just one of Son Heung-min’s three league goals in six appearances this season has been scored on his left foot.
Prediction
With new owners in charge and Bruce set for his 1000th match as a manager, Newcastle are coming into this match on a massively high wave of positivity but their defence needs to turn up after looking shaky at Wolves a fortnight ago with the midfield also outplayed.
Tottenham meanwhile often found themselves under the cosh against Aston Villa just prior to the international break, yet clinical counter attacking proved the difference despite poor positioning enabling Villa to briefly equalise.
Spurs though could be without several players here which is a worry especially if Lascelles, Willock and Wilson start for Newcastle, which could give the Magpies extra quality and belief here to deliver a home performance for an under-pressure Bruce in front of their new owners and a sell-out crowd.
On that note, this game on paper would be Tottenham’s to lose but I have a feeling that this clash could be one of those dream-like wins on one of those high positivity waves for the Magpies.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Tottenham
Result: Newcastle 2-3 Tottenham