Luton Town head to St James' Park on Saturday to take on Newcastle United in the Premier League in a 3pm kick-off.
The two sides met at Kenilworth Road just before Christmas and things did not go well for the Magpies coming away with no points after Luton grabbed a 1-0 win.
Now with the Hatters coming to St James' Park, revenge is one the Magpies' minds, but as has been the case almost all season, Eddie Howe will have some big calls to make with his selection thanks to a deluge of injuries.
Jason Tindall filled in for Howe in this morning's press conference and he hinted at several players being close to a return to action. Both Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak are in contention, as are Harvey Barnes and Joe Willock.
We've felt that starts would be too soon for Willock and Barnes, but Wilson and Isak may play a half each as neither will be fit enough to play a full game, but not using either would leave us with no strikers, so with our prediction, we have taken a risk. Otherwise, we expect Anthony Gordon through the middle instead of Wilson and Miguel Almiron out on the left.
Martin Dubravka - There wasn't much Dubravka could do about Ollie Watkins' goal during midweek so we've still got faith in the Slovakian stopper.
Kieran Trippier - El Capitan is back to his pre-December-meltdown best and hopefully, that continues on Saturday.
Fabian Schar - Just picked up Player of the Month for January and rightfully so, coming off the back of a midweek brace. Undroppable.
Sven Botman - The intimidating Dutchman is getting better with every game since returning from a long absence.
Dan Burn - We have given him a lot of stick, but when he's on, he's on and we understand why Eddie Howe persists with him at left-back.
Sean Longstaff - Should be starting to feel the pressure with Joe Willock close to a return, so needs to up his game.
Bruno Guimaraes - Dogpoop against Fulham, quality against Villa. Which Bruno will we get against Luton?
Lewis Miley - The Golden Child has looked a little tired of late, running out of steam at around the hour mark, but that first hour though, wow.
Jacob Murphy - Miguel Almiron should be fully over his illness now, but that shouldn't mean he gets in ahead of Murphy by default, we'd stick with the Clown Prince of Newcastle.
Callum Wilson - Potentially fit enough to play a part, potentially not. We've taken a risk because we just want an actual striker on the pitch.
Anthony Gordon - Could end up playing in the middle over Wilson, but will be on the pitch regardless. How could he not be?
PL | GD | PTS | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Liverpool
|
14 | 18 | 35 |
2 |
Chelsea
|
15 | 17 | 31 |
3 |
Arsenal
|
15 | 14 | 29 |
4 |
Manchester City
|
15 | 6 | 27 |
5 |
Nottingham Forest
|
15 | 1 | 25 |
6 |
Aston Villa
|
15 | 0 | 25 |
7 |
Brighton
|
15 | 3 | 24 |
8 |
Bournemouth
|
15 | 3 | 24 |
9 |
Brentford
|
15 | 3 | 23 |
10 |
Fulham
|
15 | 2 | 23 |
11 |
Tottenham Hotspur
|
15 | 12 | 20 |
12 |
Newcastle United
|
15 | -2 | 20 |
13 |
Manchester United
|
15 | 1 | 19 |
14 |
West Ham United
|
14 | -9 | 15 |
15 |
Everton
|
14 | -7 | 14 |
16 |
Leicester
|
15 | -9 | 14 |
17 |
Crystal Palace
|
15 | -6 | 13 |
18 |
Ipswich
|
15 | -13 | 9 |
19 |
Wolves
|
14 | -14 | 9 |
20 |
Southampton
|
15 | -20 | 5 |