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

Before we talk about matters on the pitch, we’d like to send our thoughts, thanks and best wishes to Darren Eales, who has been forced to step down from his position as CEO after being diagnosed with a chronic form of blood cancer. Truly awful news.

Looking ahead to this weekend, it’s fair to say Newcastle United’s bubble was burst in last Saturday’s dreadful display at Fulham. Our first defeat of the season and one that had been coming if performances didn’t improve.

It was one of our least convincing displays under Howe and a response is needed this Saturday, where we have the small task of Pep Guardiola’s Man City and taming the seemingly untamable Erling Haaland. However, with Rodri out and the Spaniard ‘irreplaceable’ (Pep’s words), they may not be quite* the same beast.

It’s been a strange week for us in the build up to this one, with Tuesday’s planned trip to Wimbledon postponed due to flooding issues. Based on Howe’s comments today, it may have worked out in our favour.

Asked about the week, Howe said: “It gave us the opportunity to train, which was probably a good thing for us. We had two really good days where we worked with the team and tried to solve some issues from the Fulham game. I look at that as a positive. I’m pleased with the work we’ve done and looking for a better performance.”

Eddie Howe’s pre-match comments 

“We didn’t look like ourselves (at Fulham). I think it was one of those games where we we analysed a lot, took away a lot from it, to try implement into our game. When you review and you think about it, we didn’t like ourselves. So some honest conversations this week and that hopefully will prompt a response…we have a responsibility to show our true selves and give our best.

“Everyone will be highly motivated, we need to make sure we make it as difficult as we can for our opponents, and to do that, we will need to be at our very best. We have to carry a threat; we have to be an attacking force in the game.

“We must be that attacking force, not forgetting what we are good at. Our challenge is to be competitive and try and impose ourselves on the game.”

Team news

Alexander Isak is a doubt after failing to train all week due to a niggling toe issue which stiffened up at the end of last weekend’s game at Fulham. Callum Wilson (back/hamstring), Lewis Miley (foot), Sven Botman (ACL) and Jamaal Lascelles (ACL) remain sidelined, while Matt Targett will be missing after a bad eczema flare-up.

For Man City, news of Rodri’s ACL injury is a major blow for them and Kevin De Bruyne is also a doubt. Nathan Ake also remains absent after missing their last two games.

Predicted XI: Pope – Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall – Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton – Murphy, Gordon, Barnes.

I wouldn’t be against Trippier at right-back and Tino down the left – he feels a safer bet to handle someone like Savinho than Hall or Kelly right now – but I think Howe may bring the Hall back into the side after Kelly’s struggles at Fulham and use Trippier’s experience and know-how against City’s dangerous options down the left.

In midfield, I wouldn’t be shocked if Longstaff returned, as his ability to plug gaps was missed at Fulham, but I can’t help feeling it’s time for Tonali. His quality in possession could be key in the moments we get the ball and look to hit on the break, not to mention he has the sort of pace and athleticism to help us at both ends. On the left, I feel Joelinton is at his best at home when we’re the underdogs, so I’m pretty certain he stays in ahead of Willock; who didn’t look fully fit at Fulham.

In attack, Isak’s lack of training and ineffectiveness at Fulham makes me believe he’ll miss out. Playing with a broken toe isn’t ideal and a trio of Barnes, Gordon as a false nine and Murphy on the right could have the pace to hurt City on the counter.

Match prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Man City

My heart says a 2-2 draw where we’ll be able to exploit the gaps a Rodri-less City could leave, but we could be without our star striker and they’ll have a certain Erling Haaland; a freak of nature in front of goal who averages a goal every 45 minutes so far this season.

I do think we’ll respond to last weekend’s defeat with an improved performance. However, I fear it may just come up short against a City side who’ll be looking to build on that dramatic draw with Arsenal last time out.