MY ACCOUNT
– Newcastle have won four of their last five
– Villa have lost four of their last six away
– Recommended bet: Back Newcastle to win
Newcastle would cement their position in the Premier League’s top four if they can beat an Aston Villa side looking optimistically to the future on Saturday afternoon.
Four wins from their last five league games have sent expectations on Tyneside soaring with manager Eddie Howe keen to guard against complacency ahead of a visit from a dangerous Villa side.
Aaron Danks takes charge of the visitors for the second, and final, time after replacing the sacked Steven Gerrard.
His tactical and personnel changes brought about a much-improved showing against Brentford and he will hope to sign off with another win before handing over the reins to former Arsenal and Villarreal boss Unai Emery next week.
Team news
Eddie Howe admitted there were “a few bumps and bruises” within the group, but that no serious fresh injury concerns had been sustained since or during the Magpies’ 2-1 win over Tottenham last weekend.
Allan Saint-Maximin may be about the only player Howe would consider changing a winning team to accommodate and he could feature at some stage on Saturday.
The Frenchman, who has missed seven of Newcastle’s last eight games, was being assessed on Friday with Howe suggesting “there’s a chance” that the forward could be available face Villa.
If he does not make it, Joelinton and the in-form Miguel Almiron will continue to flank Callum Wilson in Newcastle’s three-pronged attack.
Villa could be unchanged after turning in their best performance since beating Liverpool 7-2 last year against Brentford last weekend.
Danks dropped John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey while Philippe Coutinho remained out of favour as he switched to a 4-2-3-1 system that played to the strengths of Villa’s personnel.
The deeper-sitting Douglas Luiz and Leander Dendoncker provided the platform for Emiliano Buendia to link well with the forward players and it would be a surprise if Danks ditched that system.
Lucas Digne has completed a full week of training with the squad and will be available to face Newcastle.
And midfielder Boubacar Kamara is edging closer to a return, although he is not being considered for the trip to St James’ Park because he has not trained fully with his teammates this week.
The stats
After going seven games without defeat, Newcastle are in the Premier League’s top four after 12 games for the first time since 2012.
The Magpies have taken more points in October than they did in the first four months of last season combined.
They are also unbeaten in their last 13 home Premier League matches against Aston Villa.
Villa, who are winless in their last seven Premier League away games, have conceded 42% of their goals down their left side this season.
Right-sided Newcastle star Almiron has scored five goals in his last five appearances for the club.
Prediction
Newcastle have become a much more aggressive side with the ball this season and confidence within the camp is flowing nicely after an excellent run of results.
The Tyneside treatment room has begun to clear out and the impending return of Saint-Maximin will be another boost to Howe’s options in the next couple of weeks.
Villa stunned their own supporters as much as Brentford by the nature of their comprehensive win last weekend and how much of that was a reflection of Gerrard’s axing will be learned in the next few games.
The Midlands club have an awful record away to the Magpies and look destined to suffer against an in-form team that have picked up a joint league-high 13 points across the last five Premier League rounds.
Newcastle are a much better side now than they were when won the corresponding fixture 1-0 at St James’ Park last February while Villa have regressed and seem unlikely to stop the Magpies, available at 10/13 for the win via LiveScore Bet, from taking all three points again.
