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

by Olly Hawkins · 18 October 2024, 18:41

Before I preview this weekend's game, I'd like to pay tribute to Andrew Macfarlane; a hidden but huge part of NUFC Blog who is sadly no longer with us following his tragic death a fortnight ago. We'll miss you, Andy.

It feels like an age since our frustrating 0-0 draw at Everton thanks to another dull international break, although that did bring some good news as the FA ended any Eddie Howe speculation by appointing Thomas Tuchel instead. Phew.

Moving to Saturday's clash with Brighton, it feels like the start of a tough run and potentially defining period of our season, with Chelsea (in the league and cup), Arsenal and a tricky trip to Nottingham Forest set to follow.

Yankuba Minteh will play his first game at St James' Park but the big news from a Newcastle perspective is Alexander Isak's return from a toe issue and an injury-free international break.

We've been strong at home so far this season, beating Southampton with 10 men, Spurs 2-1 and playing well in a 1-1 draw with Man City and will be hoping to keep that going against a tricky Brighton side who score goals and test you tactically, but also leave plenty of space in behind should they continue with that high line.

Eddie Howe's pre-match comments

"It was a good break. We gave them some time off at the start of the week and then trained hard. We have worked on quite a lot. Everyone has come back in a good place. The only one we haven't seen back is Miggy (Almirón), he flew back into the country yesterday."

"There are some tough games in there, great challenges for us. It's a great stage of the season to hopefully hit our top form. The group of games we have to come; three at home and some tough away games. We haven’t hit top gear, but we have been resilient and hard to beat, but we do need to find our best form to get some good results from these matches."

"Brighton are a difficult opponent - I think they have been historically for us. We have won some, but we have lost some. They are very progressive, very attacking. I think it will be a good game between two very open teams."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfcDr_VC02I

Team news

Alexander Isak (toe) is back and has "looked good" in training, Kieran Trippier (hamstring) will be out for a "few weeks" and Callum Wilson (back) has trained but won't be available for this one.

Lewis Miley is back in training following a broken foot but will be eased back in and Martin Dubravka (bruised knee) is back in training after missing Slovakia's Nations League games. Sven Botman (ACL) and Jamaal Lascelles (ACL) remain out.

For Brighton, star man Joao Pedro, Matt O’Riley, Adam Webster and former Mag James Milner will miss out, but centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke and winger Simon Adingra look set to return.

Predicted XI: Pope – Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall – Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton – Gordon, Isak, Barnes.

With no new injuries to report, Isak fit again and Trippier ruled out, the team may pick itself this weekend, seeing Livramento return at right-back and Murphy drop out of the side.

It'll be interesting to see who starts down the left if Gordon and Barnes are either side of Isak, while that LCM spot could be up for debate now Willock is fit again. That said, Joelinton tends to up his game at home and may get the nod again.

Match prediction: Newcastle 3-1 Brighton

Brighton score goals and it's vital we contain their big threats out wide in Mitoma and Minteh, but they've conceded 10 in their last four games, they play a high line and their insistence on playing out from the back could play right into our hands, especially if our front three are on song and pressing from the off.

I think we'll see Isak back to his best, an open game of goals and a big win for Newcastle, giving us a big boost ahead of a crucial double-header against Chelsea.

HWTL!