Newcastle predicted lineup vs Aston Villa - Premier League
By Tom Gott
Newcastle's march towards the Champions League continues on Saturday with a trip to Aston Villa.
Unai Emery's Villans are on a hot run of form right now, but Newcastle are one of the few sides who can better their recent results and they'll be full of confidence heading into what could be a real tactical battle.
Here's how Eddie Howe could set up.
Newcastle predicted lineup vs Aston Villa (4-3-3)
GK: Nick Pope - Pope heads into the weeked tied with Man Utd's David De Gea at the top of the Premier League's clean sheet table with 13.
RB: Kieran Trippier - Few right-backs in the Premier League are as effective as Trippier, who adds real threat from deep.
CB: Sven Botman - Villa were tipped to sign Botman before his move to Newcastle and they will undoubtedly be regretting missing out on his signature.
CB: Fabian Schar - Would Schar have blossomed into the player he is today if Emery had taken the Newcastle job instead of Howe? The Swiss international is one of a number of players to have excelled under the current boss.
LB: Dan Burn - Burn may have to bring his physicality inside to help out against the in-form Ollie Watkins.
DM: Bruno Guimaraes - An ankle issue continues to trouble Guimaraes but the Brazilian will once again play through the pain.
CM: Joe Willock - Willock looks to have shaken off a thigh problem and should be ready for another start.
CM: Sean Longstaff - It was an excellent performance in the return fixture which saw fans convinced by Longstaff's quality.
RW: Jacob Murphy - Injury woes mean Murphy should continue starting, with Anthony Gordon still watching on from the sidelines.
ST: Alexander Isak - The Swede is one of the most dangerous strikers in the Premier League right now and will have to keep it that way if he is to keep Callum Wilson out of the team.
LW: Joelinton - Allan Saint-Maximin's injury absence makes this an easy decision for Howe.
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