Burnley (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & score prediction

If you thought the Norwich game was a must win, this is a game of monumental importance.

After our 10-men dug deep for a hard fought yet frustrating point against a side I'm sure we would've beaten with 11 on the field, we simply have to beat Burnley this weekend.

Who knows, Eddie Howe may be able to deliver a few earlier Christmas presents over the festive period, but you struggle to see how we'll find wins against the likes of Leicester, Liverpool, Man City and Man Utd - teams we'll face in our next four - if we can't beat Norwich or Burnley at home.

Putting Tuesday's frustrations aside and focusing on the positives, there's plenty of reasons to believe we'll have too much for Burnley.

We did the double over them last season and will have a real point to prove after they dumped us out of the Carabao Cup on penalties just a few months ago.

They're also a side that have never got to grips with Allan Saint-Maximin - who has two goals and two assists in two Premier League meetings with the Clarets.

Callum Wilson is also available after avoiding his fifth yellow of the season in midweek - a player who scored twice in this fixture last season - while the return of Federico Fernandez and resurgence of Joelinton and Jonjo Shelvey also give us reasons to be hopeful ahead of this one.

They'll throw balls into the box and be competitive all over the pitch, but if we defend as we did on Tuesday, arrive with the same determined attitude and find ways to hurt them like we have in recent meetings, I am confident we'll come away with all three points.

It's also worth noting that, for all the fears we're as good as gone, we could be just THREE from safety if a win on Saturday is followed by defeats for Watford and Norwich - who play Man City and Spurs respectively.

Team news

Both Jamaal Lascelles and Matt Ritchie are back from one-game bans, however Federico Fernandez and Jamal Lewis could keep their places after rock solid displays on Tuesday.

Ciaran Clark is suspended after his red in midweek, while Paul Dummett and Elliot Anderson will be missing once again.

As for the visitors, Toon target James Tarkowski is back from a ban - as is first choice midfielder Ashley Westwood - however Phil Bardsley and Ashley Barnes have been ruled out with knocks.

Predicted line ups

(4-4-1-1): Dubravka – Manquillo, Schar, Fernandez, Lewis - Fraser, Hayden, Shelvey, Saint-Maximin - Joelinton - Wilson.

(4-4-2): Pope - Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Taylor - Gudmundsson, Brownhill, Westwood, McNeil - Corent, Wood.

The big question heading into this one is whether Lascelles or Ritchie return to the side after Fernandez and Lewis performed well in their absence on Tuesday.

There's no way Fernandez can be left out after such a commanding display in midweek, yet Howe did talk up Lascelles in his pre-match press conference - a player who may be needed for his aerial ability alone against this big Burnley side.

With Schar's ability to create from deep often key in winnable home games like these, it creates a potential headache for Howe. Who does he leave out? Or does he opt for a back three with attacking wing-backs out wide?

I think he may go with the former, on the basis Schar isn't as good in the air as Lascelles and Fernandez - who will have their hands full with Wood - and also picked up a couple of heavy knocks on Tuesday. If he's fully fit, however, I wouldn't be surprised to see us play with a back three.

On the basis we stick with a four-man defence, I believe Lewis and Manquillo will keep their place, with Hayden replacing Willock in midfield.

Fraser also seems likely to be handed a start, as he was unlucky to be withdrawn straight after Clark's red card on Tuesday.

Match prediction

Burnley are a very functional side who aren't always pretty on the eye, yet they often make you work hard for a win.

That said, they never seem to like players who expose their lack of pace by running at them, meaning the likes of Saint-Maximin could do damage - providing he's much more 'at it' than he's been in recent weeks!

They'll throw balls into the box, be direct and make it much more difficult for our defence than 10-man Norwich did on Tuesday, so it may take another improved defensive display to cope with McNeil's superb deliveries, Wood's aerial threat and the explosive Maxwell Cornet; who has scored four in his last five for the visitors.

The good news is, I do see us causing problems at the other end. They don't often press, which could see Schar and Shelvey thrive, while Saint-Maximin could cause havoc if his recent meetings with Burnley are anything to go by.

We simply must win and I think we will.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Burnley

HOWAY THE LADS!