Tottenham (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line up and prediction

After a messy three months and rare feelings of unease over a chaotic summer at St James' Park, the transfer window ended disappointingly last night with the arrival of no centre-back, right-winger or major first-team signing.

We must learn from our mistakes and up our game off the pitch from this point onwards, but we have a game to play on the grass this weekend as Spurs come to Tyneside for Sunday's 1.30pm kick-off.

Performances this season have been a bit iffy - we were poor with 11 men against Southampton, we were lucky not to lose at Bournemouth and didn't control a game we should have won comfortably at Forest on Wednesday - yet we're unbeaten so far, have taken four points from a possible six and are into the next round of the cup after a morale-boosting shootout win at the City Ground.

Eddie Howe’s pre-match comments

"There are no easy games. We have done well to get four points so far as we have not been at our absolute best. Against Tottenham, we are going to have to be at our very best to get something from the game.

"Tottenham have been very good - they continue to be a team I like to watch, a very attractive style, fluid. They have recruited well and signed some really talented players.

"They were good last year, but I think they will be even better this year. I think we always have entertaining games against them. For us, we need to make sure we get on top of the details."

Team news

Joe Willock's thigh injury is not thought to be serious based on initial scans, but he looks set to miss this one along with Fabian Schar - who sits out again as he completes his three-match ban - Callum Wilson (back), Lewis Miley (foot), Sven Botman (ACL) and Jamaal Lascelles (ACL).

In better news, this is the first time in 10 months that Sandro Tonali will be eligible in the Premier League and the Italian handed given Howe a selection dilemma after looking razor sharp on his return in midweek.

For Spurs, £65m signing Dominic Solanke looks set to miss out along with Richarlison, but Rodrigo Bentancur has been passed fit along with left-back Destiny Udogie and Micky van de Ven; the speedy centre-back who got toppled by Isak the last time they met.

Predicted line-up: (4-3-3) Pope – Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Kelly – Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton – Barnes, Isak, Gordon.

I think Kelly could continue at left-back to help offer that extra bit of defensive protection against a dangerous Spurs side. Normally, I'd expect Howe to ease Tonali back in and keep faith in Longstaff for now, but the Italian looked too sharp at Forest to ignore.

Out wide, I feel Barnes deserves a start after his game-changing cameo at Bournemouth and strong end to our cup win at Forest. We know Gordon will play, so that leaves me wondering if Barnes could start down the right after impressing in that role a few nights ago?

Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Spurs

We've beaten this lot by an aggregate scoreline of 10-1 over our last two meetings at St James' Park. That offers encouragement, but our performances have not so far this season, even if our results have been positive.

If we're back to our best and arrive boosted from Wednesday's win and bang up for it, I think we'll blow them away again. I just get the feeling it'll be a high-scoring draw that keeps both sides unbeaten for the season.

HWTL!