Despite a plucky opening, and scoring a sensational goal to take the lead, Newcastle were beaten at Liverpool on Saturday, bringing an abrupt halt to their mini-streak of two unbeaten games.
Although the loss was expected by most, it does put more emphasis on the Brighton game, and while it is far too soon to talk about it being a ‘six-pointer’, it is important to see off a side that is expected to be in and around us this season.
Brighton find themselves on five points, only one more than Newcastle, but having only played one of the big six sides – a 4-0 defeat at Manchester City the weekend prior to the international break – they may be more disappointed with their start than Newcastle are.
The Seagulls won their other away game, with an impressive opening weekend 3-0 victory at Watford, but have gained only two points since.
Newcastle have not won a home game yet, however, and will be hoping to put themselves back on track against Graham Potter’s Seagulls this weekend.
Early team news
Newcastle have eight players listed as doubtful or ruled out, but are hopeful that Fabian Schar, who was forced off at Anfield with a calf problem, will be fit to play.
Steve Bruce could also be boosted by the return of Andy Carroll, who may be set for a place on the bench, while Allan Saint-Maximin has a slim chance of being handed a similar role.
Whether DeAndre Yedlin is ready to challenge Emil Krafth for the right-back spot is not known, but it is too soon for Matt Ritchie to make his comeback from the ankle injury he received from the horror challenge against Leicester in the EFL Cup.
Brighton’s Belgian midfielder Leandro Trossard and Colombian striker Jose Izquierdo are both ruled out with groin and knee injuries respectively.
Potter has defensive problems, with four players who could be missing. Both Leon Balogun and Bernado are rated as 50-50, while Italian Ezequiel Schelotto has only a 25 per cent chance of being available.
The Seagulls will expect to have Spanish right-back Martin Montoya available again, after he missed last weekend’s draw against Burnley with tonsilitis.
Referee: Martin Atkinson
The West Yorkshire official takes charge of a Newcastle game for the second time this season, with him previously in the middle for the opening defeat of the season against Arsenal.
He has refereed five times already this campaign, and while he has not sent a player off yet, he has brandished 19 yellow cards – including Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron for diving against Arsenal – and awarded three penalties.
It will be the fourth time he has refereed Newcastle in the past two seasons, with us failing to win any of the other three, having drawn one and lost the other two.
In those three games, Atkinson has booked four Newcastle players and seven of the opposition, with no red cards or penalties in any of them.
Points to prove
Steve Bruce will want Newcastle to get back to winning ways, and will be looking to get his first home win under his belt.
Having been slightly unfortunate to lose to Arsenal, and then to dominate large parts of the game against Watford without finding a winning goal, Bruce will be wanting to right the ship against Brighton.
He will know it is imperative to Newcastle’s hopes this season that they ensure St James’ Park becomes an intimidating place for opposition teams to visit again, and the only way to do that is by winning games.
Miguel Almiron knows he needs a goal, and Brighton could be his best chance to get one for a while. He will know his spot is under threat with the impending return of Saint-Maximin, and will be looking to put in a strong performance on Saturday.
Graham Potter will want to prove he was the right man to be given the reigns at Brighton this summer, and will be hoping to take points against a side that he could be battling against all season.
As an English manager looking to make a name for himself in the Premier League, he will see this as a winnable game, as will his counterpart in the home dugout.
Likely formations
Steve Bruce is unlikely to stray too far away from his three centre-back lineup, but fans will be hoping for a more adventurous approach from the home side, as they look to leapfrog their opponents in the league table with a win.
So Bruce is likely to urge his wing-backs to push into a more offensive position when we have the ball, and while Jetro Willems looks accomplished enough to excel at that – as his goal at Liverpool proved – there are more questions over Emil Krafth on the opposite flank.
So it would be no surprise to see Javier Manquillo start in place of the Swede, with Bruce going for a 3-5-1-1 set-up.
Potter has stuck to his guns, playing a 3-4-3 formation in every Premier League game to date, and it is unlikely that he will shift from that at Newcastle this weekend.
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