Newcastle look to reignite their top-five push in a Premier League clash against relegation-battling Ipswich.
Victory will lift Newcastle back up to third with Nottingham Forest not in action until 1 May.
Ipswich will be relegated even in the event that they win on Tyneside if West Ham avoid defeat at Brighton, although a draw or defeat would send Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys down regardless of the Hammers’ result.
Team News
Fabian Schar is a doubt for Newcastle after he suffered a hamstring injury during their 4-1 loss at Aston Villa on Easter Saturday.
Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles (both knee) and Lewis Hall (foot) remain absent.
Ipswich will be without defender, Leif Davis as he begins a three-match suspension following his red card in their 4-0 defeat at home to Arsenal.
Arijanet Muric (shoulder), Nathan Broadhead (thigh), Omari Hutchinson, Conor Townsend (both hamstring), Sammie Szmodics (ankle), Jaden Philogene-Bidace (MCL), Wes Burns (ACL), Kalvin Phillips and Chiedozie Ogbene (both Achilles) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Newcastle host Ipswich at St James’ Park on Saturday 26 April at 3pm BST, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Newcastle have lost one of their last six Premier League meetings against Ipswich (W4, D1, L1).
- Ipswich are yet to claim a Premier League victory away at Newcastle (D2, L2).
- Newcastle have kept clean sheets in two of their last three top-flight meetings against Ipswich, albeit away at Portman Road.
- Alexander Isak has scored four goals in three of Newcastle’s last four home matches in the top-flight.
- Dara O’Shea has made more interceptions than any other Ipswich player this season (31).
Prediction
Although their lacklustre display at Villa was unexpected following a ruthless demolition of Crystal Palace just days earlier, alarm bells shouldn’t be ringing just yet for Newcastle as every team has an off-day and this is the ideal bounce-back game if can regroup and find their attacking best once more.
Ipswich meanwhile are already all-but-mathematically down and after their sloppy defensive display against Arsenal in which Davis’ deserved red card wasn’t ideal, I just don’t see them having much to offer in response on Tyneside especially given their injury crisis.
In fact I just don’t see Ipswich getting a result irrespective of what West Ham do at Brighton and this should be one-way traffic.
Prediction: Newcastle 4-0 Ipswich
Result: Newcastle 3-0 Ipswich
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