Two teams with different goals between now and the end of the 2020-21 Premier League season meet at St James’ Park on Sunday.
Newcastle United are fighting for our top flight status between now and May whilst Jose Mourinho is trying to sneak his Tottenham Hotspur into the top four.
We are just two points above the relegation zone with nine games to go and are winless in our last six. Meanwhile, Spurs have won four of their last five in the Premier League, with that one exception being defeat in the North London derby.
It comes as little surprise to see Tottenham are the odds on favourites for this weekend’s match and a popular choice to add in your lucky 15 calculator.
Team News
We could have Allan Saint-Maximin back for the weekend. The forward missed March with a groin injury and subsequently we didn’t win a single game during the month. With five goal involvements (2 goals, 3 assists) in 12 Premier League starts this season the 24-year-old has been fairly productive.
Top scorer Callum Wilson could also be back on Sunday. The striker has been out for nearly two months with a hamstring injury and has been dearly missed. The summer signing from Bournemouth has netted 10 goals in 21 Premier League appearances for us whilst we have scored just three goals in the six matches since his injury.
Two players definitely ruled out for the weekend are centre-back Fabian Schar and holding midfielder Isaac Hayden, who are both ruled out for the remainder of the season. Schar is facing a battle to be fit in time to represent Switzerland at Euro 2020 this summer.
The latest Tottenham news is that they have a number of injuries heading into their trip up north over the Easter weekend.
Son Heung-min missed the 2-0 win at Aston Villa before the international break with a thigh injury and is expected to miss this trip too. With 13 goals this season it will come as a relief to our defence that the South Korean is missing.
Left-back Ben Davies pulled out of Wales’ squad over the break with a calf problem described as “significant”. The defender had started a string of games for Spurs before only being introduced as a substitute last time out.
On the opposite flank is Sergio Reguilon who could also be absent over the weekend with a foot injury. The Spaniard appeared to pick up the injury in the closing stages at Villa Park and was not called up to the Spain squad as a result. This means he’s had two weeks to recover.
In his place could be Matt Doherty. Although the right-back sustained a knock during the Republic of Ireland’s defeat at home to Luxembourg last week and came off at half-time, it appeared to be nothing too serious.
Expected Lineups
Newcastle (4-5-1): Martin Dubravka; Javier Manquillo, Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark, Paul Dummett; Joelinton, Joe Willock, Jonjo Shelvey, Jeff Hendrick, Ryan Fraser; Callum Wilson
Tottenham (4-2-3-1): Hugo Lloris; Serge Aurier, Davinson Sanchez, Toby Alderweireld, Matt Doherty; Pierre Emile Hojbjerg, Tanguy Ndombele, Gareth Bale, Dele Alli, Lucas Moura; Harry Kane
Prediction
Newcastle are in free fall and this is one of the tougher games on our remaining schedule. Although they have had more players flying over the world over the past week, I still lack faith in Steve Bruce and co to pick up something from this game.
Prediction: Newcastle 0-2 Tottenham