No Joelinton as Sven Botman returns to squad - Newcastle United team news to take on Ipswich Town

It's Eddie Howe's first game back in the dugout for Newcastle United after missing the last three matches through illness as the Magpies take on Ipswich Town at St James' Park at 3pm.

Newcastle were hammered by Aston Villa last week with a performance so bad it cured Eddie Howe's pneumonia with the gaffer turning up to work on Wednesday with an IV drip and his arse hanging out the back of his hospital gown.

Ipswich Town need nothing less than a win today to keep their survival dreams alive, however weak they may be, but with 10 first-team players missing, it's going to be an almost impossible task for the Tractor Boys.

Newcastle are without midfield stalwart Joelinton, whose absence is yet to be explained at the time of writing, he will be replaced by Joe Willock.

Eddie Howe would have gone with no changes were it not for Joelinton

This means Eddie Howe has been forced into changing the team that had won six games in a row before collapsing like a punctured soufflé against Aston Villa last week.

If it weren't for Joelinton's absence, then it looks like Howe would have gone unchanged again as he opts to keep Harvey Barnes in the side over Anthony Gordon.

The bench is an absolute mess, though with no Matt Targett AGAIN, and two goalkeepers on there. That being said, Anthony Gordon, Callum Wilson, Sven Botman and Lewis Miley certainly aren't bad options to have on there.

Ipswich have managed to cobble together a squad for today's game

As expected, Liam Delap is starting for Ipswich, as are 10 other players I've literally never heard of.

In all seriousness, if Newcastle don't win today, then we don't even deserve Champions League football.

The mood I will be in this weekend if we don't pick up three points may see me lose every friend I have. Yes, both of them!