Referee will return to St James’ Park for first time since 2022, he really enraged Joe Willock last time

Add as preferred source on Google

The Premier League have announced the referee for Newcastle United’s clash with Bournemouth at St James’ Park on Saturday.

The Magpies face the Cherries in a traditional 3pm kickoff, looking for revenge after losing 2-0 to Andoni Iraola’s side back in November.

Newcastle were without a striker on that day, and that could also be the case this weekend. That is because Alexander Isak is out injured, and he could be joined by Callum Wilson. The 31-year-old is a doubt for Saturday’s game after suffering a pectoral muscle injury during the win over Nottingham Forest.

Eddie Howe will hope that his number nine is available, otherwise Anthony Gordon will have to play through the middle.

But the real man in the middle will be Michael Salisbury, who has been confirmed as the referee for Newcastle’s next fixture.

Michael Salisbury’s last St James’ Park visit ahead of Newcastle vs Bournemouth

This will actually be the first time that Salisbury has refereed Newcastle all season. The last time he took charge of a Toon game was January 2023, when he was the official for the Magpies’ FA Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

And you have to go back to September 2022 for his last appearance at St James’ Park. That game was a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, but it should have been a Toon win.

That draw with Palace at the beginning of last season is best known for a massive blunder from VAR.

Newcastle thought they had took the lead in the second half, with Tyrick Mitchell scoring an own goal. Referee Michael Salisbury gave the goal, but the decision was scrutinised by VAR.

Lee Mason then instructed Salisbury to disallow the strike, due to Joe Willock fouling the keeper in the buildup. Now, Willock certainly did collide with the Palace stopper, but that was only because he was pushed into him by Mitchell.

Salisbury took Mason’s advice, and the goal was not given. The deadlock was not broken, and Newcastle went on to draw 0-0. After the game, the PGMOL confirmed that a mistake had been made.

Hopefully there will not be a similar controversy on Salisbury’s return to St James’ Park this weekend.