With tonight’s 8.15pm kick-off at Villa Park fast approaching, it’s time to look at the latest team news coming from Eddie Howe, Unai Emery and the media ahead of the match.
The good news is Miguel Almiron and Kieran Trippier have been passed fit. The Mail’s Craig Hope reveals that Miggy trained yesterday and will return to the squad, while Trippier’s groin issue is minor and won’t be enough to keep him out.
Harvey Barnes, Callum Wilson and Joe Willock are edging ‘closer’ to a comeback, but this game will come too soon for them. Jamaal Lascelles remains absent with a minor calf issue, while Joelinton (thigh), Elliot Anderson (back), Nick Pope (shoulder) and Matt Targett (hamstring) are also sidelined.
As for Villa, Emery has confirmed that centre-back Pau Torres, left-back Lucas Digne and striker Jhon Duran will all miss out through injury, with Toon-linked midfielder Jacob Ramsey facing a late fitness test.
With all of that in mind, we could see the following line-ups:
Predicted Newcastle XI: Dubravka – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Miley – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
Predicted Villa XI: Martínez – Cash, Konsa, Lenglet, Moreno – Bailey, Luiz, Kamara, McGinn – Diaby – Watkins.
We will be missing more than Digne , Torres, Duran & probably Ramsey.
We have been missing both Mings & Buendia too, who have both been missing for the whole season. Moreno & Ramsey had been missing with them for the whole first half of the season too, with both slowly coming back into the team of late.
And while the media like to make noise about Spurs missing a few first teamers, to go with a couple of backups who hardly ever play, & the choice to leave out players in their main position, instead, making the choice to utilise out of position players in the first team instead, again, a choice, they tend to ignore both of our clubs multiple first choice players missing long term this season.
But Spurs have had a few injuries, haven’t you heard?
Andy(Quote)