No Sandro Tonali - Newcastle United team news to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge

Newcastle United and Chelsea are due to meet at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League this evening. Kick-off is at 5:30pm live on Sky Sports.

The illness that has been sweeping the Newcastle squad has claimed another victim, with Sandro Tonali missing out today, leaving Eddie Howe with a big call to make in midfield.

The news that Tonali would miss this game has come as a dagger to the heart of any shred of confidence we had going in, and then the team news came out, and it only got worse.

There's also no Joelinton in the starting lineup, with the Brazilian starting this game on the bench, which leaves a midfield that could just give us nightmares.

No Joelinton. No Sandto Tonali. No sleep tonight.

Aaron Ramsdale has kept his place in goal and he'll be protected by what is arguably our best back four of Tino Livramento, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman and Lewis Hall. No complaints there.

However, the midfield is giving us chills as Jacob Ramsey is supported by Joe Willock and Nick Woltemade. It already feels like Ramsey is going to be a very busy boy this evening.

Up front, Jacob Murphy wears the captain's armband playing on the right with Harvey Barnes on the left and Anthony Gordon through the middle.

Chelsea are looking pretty potent in attack

Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, Alejandro Garnacho and Joao Pedro all start for Chelsea, which is going to give our back line a very tough test.

Is anyone else watching this one through their fingers? No Tonali and no Joelinton when you're already missing Bruno Guimaraes and Lewis Miley. This is criminal.

Still, we've pulled off miracles before, I suppose. Not often at grounds we haven't won at in over 10 years, but still.

HOWAY EDDIE HOWE'S BYPASS THE MIDFIELD PLEASE MAGS