Newcastle vs Aston Villa preview: team news, predicted XI, Eddie Howe quotes and prediction
Newcastle vs Aston Villa preview
After the euphoria of midweek Champions league action, Newcastle United play host to high-flying Aston Villa in the league on Sunday.
Aston Villa coming to St James’ Park as one of the league’s pacesetters is a reminder of how ruthlessly Unai Emery has raised their floor. But Newcastle United at home, with the crowd in full voice and belief building again, is not a team many enjoy playing.
It’s also a timely moment in our season. The schedule is beginning to turn, the stakes are rising, and we’re entering a crucial part of the campaign where the good sides stop talking about “momentum” and start turning it into points.
Villa are strong, coherent and hard to pull apart. But if Newcastle United can make this chaotic, physical and emotionally loud, St James’ Park can do the rest.
Recent form
Newcastle United go into this game off the back of an unbeaten run of 4 games in the league, albeit a poor showing away to bottom-side Wolves has certainly took the shine of this run.
In the cup competitions, Newcastle United have advanced to the fourth round of the FA Cup where they will meet Sunday’s opponent’s on their turf, so this match-up is as much for psychological advantage for the next round of the cup as it is for a vital three points. Newcastle United were unceremoniously battered by Manchester City 2-0 at home, showing that while St James’ Park can be a fortress, it is not always an impenetrable one when the top sides come to town.
There was also the highs of the midweek 3-0 demolition job of PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.
Villa, by contrast, are one of the league leaders, challenging both Arsenal and Manchester City in a three-way title race. Though a recent stumble in form has seen them lose ground and they will hope to keep their fading title ambitions alive when they arrive to St James’ Park on Sunday.
In keeping with Unai Emery’s hold over the competition, Villa will advance automatically to the last 16 in the Europa League following their 1-0 away win to Fenerbahçe as Emery chases a record fifth Europa League title.
Team news
Bruno Guimarães came off early against PSV with an ankle issue and swelling. He was said to have been in ‘immense’ pain and is a serious doubt for Sunday.
Dan Burn is closing in on a return to the first team as he is confirmed to be back to full training.
Jacob Murphy and Will Osula are being lined up for potential involvement following recent absences
Villa look set to be arriving at St James’ Park without influential midfielders John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara
Predicted XI
What did Eddie say
On Bruno Guimarães’ injury
“I think with Bruno we hope it is not serious. The extent of the injury is unknown. Speaking to him again, he is a guy we never rule out, so we will give him every chance this weekend. We will see.
We will always try to make the right decision. To protect the long-term. We will try to do that, Bruno. He is a match-winner and an inspiration, so we need him. We will make all the calculations and come to the right decision.”
On injuries and the schedule
“Our injury record this season is improved. Yes we have been hit with defensive injuries. But we have been happy with our treatment with injuries. Naturally with the schedule we’ve had we are going to get injuries.”
On Dan Burn’s return
“Possibly. As you saw around the Champions League game he is out with the players Today is possibly the first day he’s training fully with the group and taking contact, and that will be the key thing for him. But he’s desperate to get back involved so that’s a great sign.”
On Anthony Gordon’s output
“I think it’s just one of those random things. He could have easily scored in the Premier League but he’s saved his goals for the Champions League. Its a strange one to work out how and why these things happen.
I’ve been pleased with his contribution for a while in both competitions. He’s consistently hit the physical levels that we ask, he’s hit the attitude that we need. I still feel there’s more to come from him – he’s an outstanding player and I think he can deliver great things for us. But he’s really committing and trying to help the team.”
On Aston Villa
“They’ve had a great season so far. Unai is an outstanding coach, I really enjoy watching his teams, They have clear structures within their style of play. They’ve found ways of winning tight games this season, and have gone on a very good run, which is very difficult to do in the Premier League.
Full credit to him and his player, and they’ve had European success as well, so that brings its own challenges as we’ve found this season, so we know this will be a really difficult game.”
On the centre-forward battle between Wissa and Woltemade
“I think it’s a good thing for both players (Wissa and Woltemade) that they’re both fit and able to contribute. I see it as a huge positive for both. Looking back at previous examples, when Callum (Wilson) and Alex (Isak) were both fit and firing, they helped each other, pushed each other. elevated each other in some ways to greater performances and that is how both players have to take on the challenge.
You want the whole team feeling this, not just those two, that one bad performance could cost them their place in the side. That’s when teams play the best that they can, everyone’s pushing and everyone is aware of the strength of the group.
I trust both players, they’re very good players and have different strengths, they can be highly effective and it’s great to have them both fit and available.”
On Wissa
“His attitude is very refreshing, he’s very motivated to play, he’s got real passion and enthusiasm that is desperate to come out, and that only happens by playing football, so he’s desperate to show everyone how good he is and to score goals, which is always the most important quality in a centre-forward.”
On transfers
“I’m not panicking, that is worse thing you can do as you make rash decisions. We have our strategy. I’ve said it time and again, PSR is controlling what we’re able to do and you’ll understand that gives us limited room to manoeuvre, to try to bring a player in who is good enough to elevate the group and to have a long-term future at the football club, with the finances we have available, is very difficult.
So let’s see what happens in the last few days – anything can happen from this point onwards but certainly we try not to panic and make the right decisions.”
Key battles
1) Newcastle United intensity vs Villa’s control: Villa are one of the most structured sides in the league. They don’t “freestyle” their way through matches, they build advantages deliberately: spacing, angles, repeats. Our job is to disrupt that structure. Not reckless. Just uncomfortable. Win second balls. Collapse passing lanes. Turn Villa’s calm into hesitation.
2) Gordon and Hall vs Villa’s right side: This feels like one of those games where Anthony Gordon and Lewis Hall can make the difference. Not just with goals or assists, but with chaos: carrying, counter-pressing, forcing backpedals and generally stretching the play. If Gordon consistently drives at their full back, forces double-ups, and allows Hall to stretch in behind or get space inside, Villa’s shape stretches and their wide player gets dragged deeper than Emery would like.
3) Tonali and Joelinton: midfield duels and territory: If Newcastle United are going to win this, it will likely start with territory and winning individual duels. Villa are excellent when they can play the match in their preferred zones. If we can make it uncomfortable in the middle third, lock them into uncomfortable clearances, and keep recycling waves of pressure, the game starts to look like a St James’ Park special.
4) Don’t let Villa shoot from distance: Villa have leaned into long-range shooting more than any other team this season, and Morgan Rogers is central to it. Emery actively encourages shots from the edge of the box, so we it is essential we squeeze the gap between our defensive lines to deprive Rogers the time and space to shoot from range.
Predictions and what to expect
Everything points towards this being a tight affair…except these fixtures rarely ever are.
While Villa are too good a side to simply get rolled over, Newcastle United having the home advantage gives us an energy and momentum few sides can cope with when St James’ Park is in full voice.
Expect a fast, frenetic first half with Newcastle United coming quickly out of the blocks. Villa trying to slow the game down and removing the element of chaos. Newcastle United needing to remain patient if the early goal doesn’t come, with the game swinging on one ‘big’ moment.
