Newcastle faced with a host of defensive absentees; Saints may have Oriol Romeu and Yannik Vestergaard available; Follow the game with our live blog on Sky Sports website and app; watch free match highlights shortly after full-time on Sky Sports' digital platforms and YouTube channel
Friday 5 February 2021 14:57, UK
Team news and stats ahead of Newcastle vs Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday; kick-off 3pm.
Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce is facing a defensive crisis ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Southampton.
Skipper Jamaal Lascelles (hamstring) and Federico Fernandez (muscle) are out, while Paul Dummett (muscle) and Jamal Lewis (hamstring) are doubts and expectant father Ciaran Clark could also miss out.
Loan signing Joe Willock is available for the first time since completing his temporary move from Arsenal, while fellow midfielder Matt Ritchie returns to the squad following the collapse of his proposed return to Bournemouth. Christian Atsu has been added to the 25-man league squad as a result of DeAndre Yedlin's departure for Galatasaray.
Southampton's injury crisis appears to be abating slightly, and Ralph Hasenhuttl could have Oriol Romeu and Yannik Vestergaard available for the trip to Newcastle.
Takumi Minamino could be in line to make his debut after joining the Saints on loan from Liverpool towards the end of the January transfer window, with Shane Long and Yan Valery departing the club on loan.
Romeu trained on Thursday, but it remains to be seen whether he will be fit enough, while Vestergaard has a slightly better chance of recovering in time. Alexandre Jankewitz is suspended after his early red card against Manchester United but Jan Bednarek's dismissal was overturned on appeal.
Follow the game in our dedicated live match blog. Highlights will also be published on the Sky Sports digital platforms and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel shortly after the final whistle.
They must have put something in the water up on Tyneside as Newcastle have become fun to watch. There's much more energy in the team and the back four are pushing higher up the pitch. In their last three matches, they've managed to fire 56 attempts at goal - that's more than they mustered in their previous seven matches combined before that and Allan Saint-Maximin has yet to play from the start.
Yes, Steve Bruce's boys have lost two of those three fixtures but at least now there's a bit of spark and enjoyment in their football. It's all the locals want.
Southampton make the long journey north with problems, too. This current four-game losing run is the longest losing run in Ralph Hasenhuttl's league managerial career although his injury-list is easing up.
It's unlikely they'll shut up shop with the players they have available so this could be an action-packed game if Newcastle arrive in no-fear mode once again. With that in mind, I'm happy to take a swing at the 9/2 for Newcastle to register 16 or more shots at goal. Also, Miguel Almiron is becoming an important player just behind Callum Wilson and rates as a very interesting proposition to have a shot on target from outside the box at 4/1.
He's had four shots from range in his last four matches, hitting the target twice and crossbar once. If you combine the 16 or more shots angle with the Almiron one, you get a tasty 28/1 shot. That's worth a swing.
The outright prices look pretty tight to me, so when in doubt play the draw.
JONES KNOWS PREDICTS: 2-2
BETTING ANGLE: Miguel Almiron to have a shot on target from outside the area & Newcastle to have 16 or more shots (28/1 with Sky Bet)
In this week's Pitch to Post Preview Podcast Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher joins Peter Smith for an in-depth look at Sunday's big clash between Liverpool and Man City.
Carragher gives his verdict on whether Liverpool can recover in the title race after their defeat to Brighton - and what they will have to do to beat Man City in their must-win match at Anfield.
We also hear the latest from both clubs, with Sky Sports News reporters Vinny O'Connor and Ben Ransom sharing the team news and discussing the selection issues ahead of the game.
And Sky Sports stats star Matt Cheetham has the numbers behind the five key areas of the game, so listen in and impress your mates with his stats and facts! He also makes his Pitch for what will happen in the match - and reveals whether the data backs up the predictions made by some of Sky Sports' Twitter followers!
Subscribe to the Pitch to Post Podcast on Apple | Spotify | Castbox | Spreaker
