Newcastle’s trip to Norwich may not sound like a stand-out fixture, but is certainly going to be an intriguing one, with both sides looking to pick up their first points of the season.
While it is too early to say it is a must-win game for Steve Bruce, as some fans have been suggesting, it is important for Newcastle to take points from the teams who are likely to be in and around them all season.
The key to Newcastle picking up points at Carrow Road could rest on their ability to keep Norwich’s star striker Teemu Pukki quiet.
The Finn scored a fantastic 29 goals from 43 Championship appearances last season, and also chipped in with a further 10 assists.
Like Newcastle’s Dwight Gayle, who had similar great stats in the second tier, the jury is still out on whether Pukki can find the net consistently in the Premier League.
But he made a good start in the opening game at Liverpool, when he scored their only goal in the 4-1 defeat, and it will be up to Toon skipper Jamaal Lascelles to make sure he does not get on the score-sheet again.
Toon skipper can bounce back at Norwich
Lascelles came in for some criticism for his role in Arsenal’s goal last weekend, with him being dragged out of position, and leaving a huge hole for Pierre-Emerick Abameyang to nip in and score.
Of course, there were other mitigating factors in that goal: the poor, weak pass from Paul Dummett; and the schoolboy error from Jetro Willems to stand waiting for the ball.
But the skipper will be hoping to perform better than he did in the opener, and keeping Pukki in his pocket would go a long way to doing just that.
He will need to be positionally aware against Pukki, with the Finnish striker’s pace meaning he will be constantly looking to get in behind the defence.
And with the striker being just 5ft 9in, Lascelles should be able to come out on top of any aerial battles between the pair.
Pukki will be a nuisance all afternoon
Pukki will definitely be a threat to Newcastle, but he will also carry the weight of expectation on his shoulders, with fans hoping he can do to Premier League defences, what he did to those in the Championship.
His pace makes him a constant danger, and the Canaries’ fortunes could be determined by how well he can do against the Newcastle formation of three centre-backs.
As quick as he is, he is likely to find an extra yard or two due to the atmosphere created by an expectant home crowd.
He will also be brimful of confidence, having scored at Anfield, to carry his Championship form in front of goal into the Premier League.
Lascelles vs Pukki – The verdict
Lascelles will know he did not do himself justice against Arsenal last week, and if he is playing with a point to prove, it can only be a good thing for Newcastle.
His performance will also be determined by how well his central defensive teammates perform too.
He should have enough nous to deal with the Norwich attack, but if Pukki causes him some problems early on, it could turn out to be a long afternoon for the Newcastle skipper in East Anglia.
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