PL PREVIEW: Newcastle United v Burnley

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Build-up as the Clarets look to put first points on the board at St James' Park

2020-10-02T14:29:34.291Z

PL PREVIEW: Newcastle United v Burnley

Build-up as the Clarets look to put first points on the board at St James' Park

2020-10-02T14:29:34.291Z

Build-up as the Clarets look to put first points on the board at St James' Park

The Clarets head to Tyneside for a Saturday night date looking to get their first points on the board at the third attempt before the Premier League heads into an international break.

The clubs had contrasting fortunes in mid-week in the Carabao Cup as Burnley were knocked out by Manchester City and Newcastle scraped past Newport County on penalties following a late equaliser to set up a quarter-final trip to Brentford.

It’s therefore all eyes on the league for the Clarets, who are just two games into their campaign.

And despite back-to-back defeats at Leicester and home to Southampton last weekend, midfielder Josh Brownhill is upbeat about Burnley’s prospects they prepare to face a Newcastle side with a win, draw and loss from their opening three league fixtures.

“We would like to start the season with six points and I feel like the quality that we've got in the dressing room, which we’ve proved over the last few years, that we were capable of doing that,” said Brownhill.

“But sometimes it’s not that easy. As Leicester showed the other night when they beat Manchester City and put in a great performance, they’re a really good team.

“Southampton, with the strike-force they’ve got, they’re always going to create a lot of chances.

PL PREVIEW: Newcastle United v Burnley - Image 1

“After that it's always hard to break down a team of good quality when you go down so early but we created some decent chances, especially in the second half.

“A lot of people will write off Burnley at the beginning of the season, but that’s just talk.

“We know what we’ve got in this squad and what we're capable of doing and putting out on the pitch on a Saturday.”

Team news

The Clarets welcomed back James Tarkowski and Ashley Barnes in mid-week and, barring any reaction, the pair are likely to feature in their first Premier League game of the season.

Wingers Johann Berg Gudmundsson and Robbie Brady are edging nearer a return but Matt Lowton has been added to the injury list with a knock he picked up against Manchester City and joins Jay Rodriguez and Jack Cork on the sidelines.

Recent signing Dale Stephens is available after being cup-tie for the mid-week exit to City.

Newcastle are hoping to have flying winger Allan Saint-Maximin back from injury after missing the last three games, but defenders Jamaal Lascelles and Emil Krafth are both doubts.

Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka and forwards Dwight Gayle and Matt Ritchie are still out, along with defenders Ciaran Clark and Paul Dummett and midfielder Matty Longstaff.

Ex-Claret Jeff Hendrick is likely to face his former club.

Form guide

The Clarets are looking for their first league points of the season at the third time of asking following defeats to Leicester and Southampton.

Sean Dyche’s men bowed out of the Carabao Cup in mid-week with a 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City, while Newcastle edged into the quarter-finals with a penalty shoot-out win at Newport County.

That followed wins over Morecambe and Blackburn Rovers in the League Cup and an opening day Premier League victory at West Ham.

However, the Geordies’ only home league game so far saw them lose 3-0 to Brighton, while they didn’t muster a shot on target until a controversial late penalty at Tottenham earned them a 1-1 a draw last weekend.

Newcastle have failed to win in their last five home league games either side of the summer break and have won just one in eight in the league at St James’ Park.

Opposition camp

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce: “You know what’s coming. Dychey has got his identity, and I’m a big admirer of his – what he's done, what’s he's achieved. There are different ways to play football.

“He plays two up top, two big physical centre forwards. They’re a bit direct, play off the front and ask you the question constantly – and have been very successful at it, so we know what to expect.

“Let’s hope we can overcome it and get a good result. If we can get a result and win, it would probably take us into the top six and a quarter-final of a cup competition.”

PL PREVIEW: Newcastle United v Burnley - Image 3

Match stats

Ashley Westwood is set to make his 100th Premier League appearance for the Clarets.

If Ashley Barnes features, it will be the striker’s 200th game for Burnley in all competitions.

Burnley’s last win at St James' Park was a 1-0 success in April 1976 when Newcastle-born Peter Noble got the goal. However, the Clarets are unbeaten in three of their four Premier League games on Tyneside.

Newcastle have lost their last three home league games – conceding three goals each time.

Referee

David Coote

VAR

Paul Tierney

Kick-off

Saturday 8pm

Coverage

Sky Sports