Merry Christmas everyone! We hope you’re having a lovely time with friends and family and wish you a happy and healthy 2025.

Boxing Day football is almost upon us and Newcastle United are looking to make it four-wins on the spin after three convincing wins against Leicester, Brentford and Ipswich in league and cup.

It’s been the perfect response to that 4–2 defeat at Brentford earlier this month and a run that’s got us back in a strong position; the players look confident again, Eddie Howe has found answers to our problems at both ends of the pitch, we’re into the semi-finals of the league cup and now sit just two points from fifth.

Things are looking up, but we’ll have to be at it in our final two games of 2024, as we face a home clash with Aston Villa – a top-six rival we could leapfrog with a win – followed by a trip to Man Utd on Monday.

Eddie Howe’s pre-match quotes

Howe on our festive fixtures – “(We’ve got) every reason for us to be excited about those games. I have been really pleased with how we have played in recent games, and I think we need to take that into the next week. We have some brilliant games on paper for everyone to attack and enjoy.”

“When you are playing at home over the festive period, these games are brilliant things to be a part of so, yeah, we are looking forward to the game. When you perform and play well, you want the games to come to you.”

Howe on Unai Emery’s Aston Villa – “We had two good games against Aston Villa last season. This will be a really good challenge for us.

“I think they have good depth in their squad, they have some really good players. Their style is very difficult to play against – (they are) very well coached, very well drilled.”

Team news

Joelinton is back from a ban, but Nick Pope (knee), Callum Wilson (hamstring), Emil Krafth (collarbone) and Jamaal Lascelles (ACL) remain out. Sven Botman is getting closer but this one may come too soon.

Fabian Schar and Sandro Tonali come into this on four yellow cards, meaning one more and they’ll be banned for our trip to Man Utd on Monday night.

For Villa, it’ll be interesting to see if Ollie Watkins returns to Emery’s XI after he was benched for their 2-1 win over Man City on Saturday.

Predicted line-up

(4-3-3): Dubravka – Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall – Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.

For a few weeks now, I’ve tipped Howe to rotate slightly and bring Trippier in at right-back, but it seems he’s sticking by his back four and in no rush to give Livramento a rest, which suits me against a dangerous Villa side.

However, I do think there’ll be a change in midfield. A rusty Willock didn’t really grab his chance despite us dominating Ipswich last weekend, so I think we’ll see Joelinton back from his back and straight into that left-sided midfield slot.

Match prediction

Villa were superb in beating Man City last weekend and have athletes who could trouble Schar and Burn in Duran, Watkins and Rogers.

However, we have Alexander Isak – the best striker in the Premier League for me – one of the best on the left in Anthony Gordon and a midfield that’s finally found balance.

I think that midfield battle will be key and believe Bruno, Tonali Joelinton might just outclass the likes of Kamara, Onana and Tielemans in a tight but precious 2-1 win featuring an Anthony Gordon goal for good measure.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Aston Villa

Howay the lads!