Newcastle team news is set to be positive ahead of their home clash against Aston Villa on Saturday. Head coach Matthias Jaissle is optimistic that midfielder Bazoumana Toure will be fit to play. However, the Magpies have several injury concerns ahead of the game.
Newcastle will host Unai Emery’s side at St James’ Park in a match starting at 5.30pm on Saturday. The hosts will be looking to bounce back quickly from their 4-1 defeat at Coventry on Monday.
Newcastle team news: Toure edges closer, but absentees remain
Toure came off late at Coventry, and Newcastle feared the worst. Jaissle is sounding more upbeat about the Ivorian winger. He has said that he has made good progress over the past few days and the coach is optimistic he will train with the group and be available for Saturday’s game.
Anthony Elanga is more of a long-term concern after he missed the last three league games and will be sidelined for several weeks.
Jaissle will not compete with him. He is hopeful that he will be able to start training on his own next week and gradually return to full fitness. He acknowledged that they miss him at Newcastle.
Tino Livramento has to be handled carefully due to his injury history, but Jaissle is optimistic that he will be fit for the next few weeks. Jacob Ramsey, a former Villa, is also making promising progress and could return to half-training next week.
Jaissle wants a reaction after Coventry
Coventry’s win was their first home league victory in 25 years. Jack Rudoni scored a penalty in the sixth minute before Sven Botman equalised after 70 minutes. The hosts scored twice more to win the game. The Magpies had come to the City Ground looking to move up to fourth, but they left in 11th place.
The manager was critical of the reasons for losing. He said there were too many individual errors and he wants the young side to learn from their mistakes.
Joelinton and Dan Burn both made their first competitive appearances of the season at Coventry. Jaissle will manage his two new signings. Joelinton has trained more than Burn, who has only had a couple of sessions. The former is likely to start while the latter’s debut could be too soon.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo is still waiting for his first Newcastle goal since joining from Lille. He struck the post on his debut against Coventry, but the visitors’ defender Bobby Thomas blocked his shot on the line. Jaissle says the forward is creating opportunities for himself and just needs a goal to restore his confidence.
Villa arrive full of European confidence
Villa travel to Tyneside on the back of a 6-0 Champions League win over Fenerbahce on Wednesday, their biggest ever in Europe. Nicolas Jackson and Ross Barkley scored twice each, with Johan Manzambi and Tammy Abraham adding the other two.
Their league form is much more shaky, however, and Villa have yet to win at home this season. Jaissle respects their ability but trusts his own fans to ensure they do not get carried away. ‘In our stadium we can hurt every opponent,’ he said.
Newcastle have a good record at St James’ Park, where they are seeking a fifth successive home league win against Villa. They last won at a 2-0 scoreline in January.
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