Team news, stats and prediction ahead of Newcastle vs West Ham in the Premier League on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports (kick-off 2pm).

Team news

Newcastle new-boy Joe Willock will not make the squad for Sunday's Premier League opener against West Ham at St James' Park.

The 21-year-old midfielder, who enjoyed a fine loan spell with the Magpies last season, completed his move from Arsenal on Friday afternoon, but was not registered before the 12 noon deadline and will have to wait until next
weekend's trip to Aston Villa for his first appearance as a permanent signing.

Fellow midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has recovered from a calf problem and is available for selection, but goalkeepers Martin Dubravka (foot) and Karl Darlow, with the lingering effects of Covid-19 are out, meaning Freddie Woodman will make his Premier League debut.

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West Ham have a couple of doubts ahead of their trip to the north east.

Angelo Ogbonna picked up a hamstring injury in the pre-season friendly win over Celtic, while Manuel Lanzini (groin) is also a fitness concern.

Goalkeeper Alphonse Areola could make his competitive debut having joined on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.

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How to follow

Live Renault Super Sunday

Newcastle vs West Ham is live on Sky Sports Premier League from 1pm; kick-off 2pm. Sky Sports customers can watch in-game clips in the live match blog on the Sky Sports website and app. Highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.

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Opta stats

• Newcastle beat West Ham in their opening Premier League match last season, winning 2-0 at London Stadium. The Magpies haven't won on MD1 in consecutive Premier League seasons since beating Wigan Athletic in 2006-07 and Bolton Wanderers in 2007-08.
• West Ham United have lost their first Premier League match in each of the last five seasons stretching back to 2016-17. The last team to lose their opening top-flight match in six consecutive seasons - without a relegation in between - were Grimsby Town between 1934-35 and 1946-47.
• Newcastle have won three of their last four Premier League games (L1), just one fewer than they'd managed in their previous 23 (W4 D7 L12). The Magpies are looking to secure three consecutive league victories for the first time since November 2018.
• Newcastle kept fewer home clean sheets than any other Premier League side in 2020-21 (2), doing so against Liverpool in December (0-0) and Sheffield United in May (1-0). Only West Bromwich Albion (39) conceded more home goals in the competition than the Magpies last term (33).
• West Ham won their last two league matches of the 2020-21 season, netting three goals each time. Indeed, the Hammers scored 3+ goals in 11 different Premier League matches last term, with only the top two sides (Man City and Man Utd, 13 each) doing so more often.

Jones Knows' Prediction

The return of home fans inside stadiums will be billed for the majority as a huge positive. Maybe not so for these two teams though.

St James' Park is one the great amphitheatres but while Mike Ashley remains in charge, it also has the potential and threat to become a hindrance for the team if things aren't going swimmingly on the pitch. And for a club that have not taken 45 points over a course of the season for seven years, chances of unrest look high especially if Steve Bruce slips back to his negative ways.

That may take a few months to kick in, though, and with Allan Saint-Maximin in their side, they can threaten any team in the Premier League, especially one like West Ham who are a tad short of pace through the middle of their defence.

The flying Frenchman caused havoc as the Toon did the double over the Hammers last season and similar is expected on Super Sunday. Playing through the middle alongside Callum Wilson should see his goalscoring and shot stats improve this campaign and my thinking is prices like 9/1 for him to score first won't be around in a few weeks if he keeps getting into those dangerous central areas. I fancy him to score in a home win.

SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1

BETTING ANGLE: Allan Saint-Maximin to score first (9/1 with Sky Bet)

The Essential Football Podcast: 21/22 Premier League season preview

The Premier League is back! New signings, new teams, old rivalries resumed and fresh hope, all to the sweet sound of full stadiums. Kate Burlaga is joined by Nick Wright and Gerard Brand to preview another nine months of drama in the top flight.

PART 1: Are City still the side to beat? And who will challenge them? Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool assessed

PART 2: Will the north London gloom lift? Leicester in focus and surprise package: Leeds, Aston Villa and Everton tipped

PART 3: How will promoted trio Brentford, Watford and Norwich fare? Plus: New managers assessed, and can West Ham deal with European distraction?

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