Newcastle United host Nottingham Forest in a huge Premier League clash near the foot of the table.
Victory could see Newcastle climb to tenth in the table, whilst Forest can leapfrog their hosts and go as high as 12th with a win if Aston Villa lose at home to Burnley.
Team News
Jacob Ramsey is set to return for Newcastle after making an earlier recovery from his ankle injury than expected.
Eddie Howe otherwise has no fresh injury worries after the Magpies’ 4-0 Champions League win away to Union Saint-Gilloise in Brussels, as Tino Livramento and Yoane Wissa remain absent with knee injuries.
Forest will be without Oleksandr Zinchenko after he missed their Europa League defeat to Midtjylland with a groin injury on Thursday evening.
Murillo (thigh) is again doubtful for selection after he was substituted on Thursday night, whilst Ola Aina and Douglas Luiz (both hamstring) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Newcastle host Forest at St James’ Park on Sunday 5 October at 2pm BST, live on Sky Sports Main Event in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Newcastle have lost just one of 14 previous Premier League meetings against Forest (W10, D3, L1).
- Forest have won just one of seven previous Premier League visits to Newcastle (W1, L6).
- Ex Newcastle striker, Alexander Isak scored three goals across both league meetings against Forest last season (W2).
- Coming into this matchweek, no Premier League goalkeeper this season have kept more clean sheets than Newcastle’s Nick Pope, who has four clean sheets in six appearances.
- No Forest player has managed more shots in the top flight this season than Chris Wood (16).
Prediction
After their late heartbreak at home to Arsenal last weekend, Newcastle could of easily dropped their shoulders heading to USG but they instead produced a clinically ruthless display which has to be a marker coming into this game in terms of performance moving forward.
Forest meanwhile continues to be its own worst enemy because since a clinical opening-weekend victory, they have just lost control defensively especially after Ange Postecoglou’s arrival which was evident in a sloppy defeat to Midtjylland despite an improved attacking effort.
Although Forest are standing by Postecoglou at present, this can’t continue because Forest could otherwise face a domestic relegation scrap amidst their European jaunts and a huge improvement is imperative going into the international break.
I however just don’t see that happening because whilst both teams have defensive vulnerabilities, Newcastle do look the more confident and I fancy them to nick this.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Result: Newcastle 2-0 Nottingham Forest