Newcastle: Premier League fixtures, injury latest ahead of season restart
Sky Sports will show 64 live Premier League games when season resumes; 25 matches available on both Sky Sports Premier League and Sky's free-to-air Pick channel
Friday 3 July 2020 18:37, UK
The Premier League is back - but what shape are Newcastle in for the season restart?
Ahead of the Premier League's return this month, we run the rule over Steve Bruce's side, from fixtures and fitness to the manager's view and more...
- Newcastle - match highlights so far
- Premier League - all the new fixtures and dates
- Premier League table - as it stands
Analysis: Takeover wait hangs heavy
Sky Sports' Kate Burlaga:
'We are the Geordies,' they sing, 'the loyalest football supporters the world has ever had,' - but devotion is being to stretched to the limit on Tyneside right now.
Football is coming back to the cathedral on the hill - where Steve Bruce's side have business to take care of still - but it is the takeover that continues to hang heavy over supporters caught in the middle of the protracted and politically-charged process.
It was back in April that Mike Ashley agreed a £300m deal with a Saudi-backed consortium, the prospect of regime change finally tangible, but the wait goes on and the desire for clarity is all-pervading. That fans are yet to receive details of ticket refunds for games they will not be able to attend for the foreseeable future has only further darkened the mood.
On the pitch, a side dogged by inconsistency this term will want to strike early to plumpen their cushion above the drop zone, with games looming against Tottenham, Man City and Liverpool. Joelinton has found the back of the net in warm-up games; belatedly discovering his Premier League aim would be welcome, though Bruce has a hunch fit-again Andy Carroll could play a key role.
Football is coming back but Newcastle remain in exasperating limbo.
Who have they got left to play?
Newcastle will resume action with a home game against high-flying Sheffield United - a side they beat at Bramall Lane earlier in the season.
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Fixtures against Manchester City and Tottenham loom, while the Magpies are due to finish the delayed campaign against Liverpool, but the average position of their remaining opponents is in fact 11.4; they have five of the bottom six left to play.
Newcastle's confirmed Premier League restart dates
Sunday June 21
Newcastle vs Sheffield United
Kick-Off: 2pm; Live on Sky Sports, Sky Pick
Wednesday June 24
Newcastle vs Aston Villa
Kick-Off: 6pm
Wednesday July 1
Bournemouth vs Newcastle
Kick-Off: 2pm; Live on Sky Sports, Sky Pick
Sunday July 5
Newcastle Utd vs West Ham
Kick-Off: 2pm; Live on Sky Sports
Wednesday July 8
Man City vs Newcastle
Kick-Off: 6pm
Saturday July 11
Watford v Newcastle Utd
Kick-Off: 12.30pm
Newcastle fixtures: Dates and times to be confirmed
Newcastle vs Tottenham
Brighton vs Newcastle
Newcastle United vs Liverpool
Where can they finish?
Newcastle have an eight-point cushion above the relegation and after a topsy-turvy season, fans may be cheered to hear that modelling by Experimental361 for Sky Sports gives them only a 1.5% chance of the drop.
Might Steve Bruce be looking for a late-season flourish to squeeze into the top 10? That's deemed an improbable 6 per cent likelihood, with a 14-placed finish calculated as a 26 per cent probability.
Any other commitments?
Newcastle are in the last eight of the FA Cup for the first time since 2006.
Their quarter-final tie against Manchester City will take place on June 27/28, with the semi-finals and finals scheduled on July 18/19 and August 1 respectively.
What about the takeover?
Still no news, to the dismay of Newcastle supporters desperate for regime change.
The proposed takeover, led by Prince Mohamed bin Salman, is currently still awaiting the outcome of the Premier League's owners and directors' test after a £300m deal with current owner Mike Ashley was agreed in April.
The Premier League has refused to comment on reports suggesting paperwork has been sent linking the Saudi-backed consortium with an illegal TV streaming service.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters told Sky Sports last month he was working to no specific timeline, saying: "I don't think that we have any specific views about when these things need to be done by. What we need to ensure is that all the processes are followed properly and when the decision is made, it's the right one."
Is everyone fit and available?
Paul Dummett is fit again after suffering a hamstring injury at the beginning of the year. The defender was left out of the Toon's 25-man squad for the second half of the campaign but could yet feature again this term if the Premier League allows clubs to re-submit extended squads for the run-in.
Bruce expects to have another senior player back at his disposal in striker Andy Carroll, who has not featured since January after struggling with a hip problem.
Jetro Willems, who had impressed on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt, suffered a serious knee injury of his own in January and is continuing his rehabilitation.
Newcastle have extended the loan spell of Danny Rose from Tottenham and are continuing to try and secure the extended services of Nabil Bentaleb from Schalke and Valentino Lazaro from Inter Milan.
But midfielder Matty Longstaff's participation remains unclear after he was offered a lucrative five-year contract - one that would double his salary - by Serie A side Udinese.
What form were they in before the break?
Newcastle had earned back-to-back wins before the shutdown, following up their cup victory at West Brom with three points in the league at Southampton.
Bar another thrilling cup win - this time in extra-time at Oxford - the previous month had been forgettable; defeats to Crystal Palace and Arsenal were bookended by disappointing goalless home draws against Norwich and Burnley.
What's the manager said?
Bruce admitted concerns about player fitness last month, telling the Telegraph: "We need enough preparation to get these players into shape or they are just going to fall down like a pack of cards.... we would need at least six weeks. I don't see how we can play games until the back end of June."
But while he voiced initial trepidation about 'Project Restart' he has also spoken bullishly about his credentials to lead Newcastle should the takeover materialise.
He told Sky Sports: "If it's good for Newcastle, and the club are going to try to compete with these teams [like Liverpool and Man City], to be part of it would be great. I would love to see it and I'd love to be part of it. To be in a position where you're actually challenging would be wonderful. I'd back myself, of course I would.
"I hope it's where it goes, but in the meantime I'll just crack on, wait, roll my sleeves up and get on with trying to get some results to try and get the club going forward."
The betting - worries linger for Toon?
Newcastle have winnable-looking home games against Aston Villa, West Ham and Sheffield United, having earned a rare victory at Bramall Lane. But with trickier-looking opposition to follow in Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester City, could they yet be staring down the barrel if they struggle to add to their points haul?
If you're feeling more optimistic and fancy Bruce's side to finish with a flourish, Newcastle are a shorter price for a top-10 finish.
Newcastle to be relegated - 20/1 with Sky Bet
Newcastle to finish in the top half - 16/1 with Sky Bet
Watch the Premier League with Sky Sports
Sky Sports are broadcasting 64 live Premier League games for the 2019/20 season resumption. In addition to the 39 matches already scheduled to be broadcast exclusively live on Sky Sports before the coronavirus interruption, 25 more matches are being broadcast on both Sky Sports Premier League and Sky's free-to-air Pick channel, allowing the whole nation to be part of the return of live sport.
To celebrate the return of the Premier League, Sky Sports have also launched a host of innovative new features and updates to give fans an even more immersive experience and share the moments live with family and friends on virtual platforms.
