Jermaine Jenas has had his say on Newcastle United’s Champions League fixture against Borussia Dortmund later this evening.
The Magpies will be looking to avenge their 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture at St James’ Park and making a push for the knockout rounds.
Jenas has spoken to TNT Sports in the build-up to the game to offer his opinion on what Newcastle need to do to get out of their tough group.
After one draw, one victory and one defeat, Eddie Howe’s men sit third in Group F but it is certainly still all to play for as the competition heads into the final three group games.
Newcastle vs Dortmund: Jermaine Jenas gives his view
The former Newcastle midfielder has made the bold claim that he would happily take a point away to the German side and look to the last two fixtures to qualify into the next round.
Newcastle will face PSG in the French capital on November 28 before returning to the North East to host AC Milan on December 13 in what could be the decisive game for qualification.
Speaking ahead of the game, Jenas said: “Going over to Dortmund is going to be a whole different ballgame. I’d definitely take a point.
“Those two away games against Dortmund and PSG are the reason they want to be in this competition, to experience these moments.
“I’d take a point and have them going to PSG knowing they have the ability to turn them over like they did at home.
“It’s going to be tough. I think that defeat [against Dortmund], afterwards, there was a look in everyone’s eyes that said, ‘that’s the one that will knock us out of the tournament.’”
A point away to one of Europe’s top teams would not be a bad result at all, but it does put a lot of pressures on the last two games against PSG and Milan.
Eddie Howe’s injury headache continues
Newcastle have travelled over to Dortmund with just 16 senior players – three of which are goalkeepers – due to a number of injuries and suspensions that have been picked up in the last few weeks.
The Magpies will be without nine first-team players this evening, including the likes of Sven Botman, Dan Burn and Alexander Isak who have been key to Howe’s game plan.
Despite the growing list of side-lined players, Newcastle’s impressive form has not slowed down with huge wins both in the league and Carabao Cup in the last week.
Howe will have to rely on some of the more fringe players in the squad tonight or potentially even some of the inexperienced academy players who have also travelled like Ben Parkinson or Lucas De Bolle.
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