'Don't miss this one': Paul Merson expects an entertaining game as he predicts score between Bournemouth and Newcastle United
Newcastle United return to Premier League action on Sunday, taking on Eddie Howe's former club Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in a 2 pm kick-off live on Sky Sports.
The Vitality Stadium hasn't exactly been kind to Newcastle in the Eddie Howe era, so this is going to be a good test for the Magpies.
Newcastle go into this one off the back of a tough night at St James' Park in the Champions League, where Howe made some team selection mistakes that ultimately cost the Magpies a historic win.
That being said, Newcastle did look good for much of the game, and they could take a whole bunch of confidence from that going down to Bournemouth.
Paul Merson is expecting goals aplenty on Sunday
Paul Merson did his score prediction for Sportskeeda before last night's game and only had Nick Woltemade's game against Wolves to go off, but he still had plenty to say about the Newcastle forward.
"This will be a good game to watch. Bournemouth are flying and Newcastle got their first win last weekend. Nick Woltemade reminds me of Peter Crouch! He has a good brain, comes deep and gets people involved, that is literally the same way Crouch played. My only demand is that Woltemade has to get back in the box a lot more. Sometimes, he just gets too involved in the build up.
"Based on what we've seen so far, you'd be shocked if Woltemade doesn't score more goals than Sesko this season. He has two wingers who will feed him so well, like they did in that win over Wolves. United, on the other hand, don't have that type of wingers. Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo would rather have a crack at goal themselves than feed Sesko.
"I expect an entertaining game with plenty of goals here, don't miss this one!
"Prediction: Bournemouth 2-2 Newcastle United"
There'll be no Anthony Gordon as a striker on Sunday, at least
As much as Newcastle need to start putting wins on the board, a draw away at Bournemouth would be a pretty good result for Newcastle.
Our record down there is horrendous to begin with, but Bournemouth are really coming into their own lately and are starting to become contenders for European places.
Anthony Gordon will serve the last game of his three-match suspension, so at least we won't have to deal with him playing as a centre-forward, so that's something to look forward to.
