After the disapppointment of Wednesday’s Carabao Cup defeat, Newcastle return to Premier League action on Saturday, for a traditional 3.00pm kick-off for the home game against Watford.
The Hornets are the only team below Newcastle in the early Premier League table, and the only side without a single point this season.
Watford manager, Javi Gracia, is already under pressure, with reports claiming a defeat at St James’ Park on Saturday could see him sacked, just four games into the season.
It will be up to Newcastle to exploit the gloomy atmosphere surrounding Watford and their current plight, and make sure that they take maximum points from the game.
Early team news
Newcastle and Watford find themselves at contrasting extremes in the Premier Injuries’ Premier League injury table, with Newcastle heading it, having no less than 11 players ruled out, or doubtful.
Of those 11, only Jack Colback would not be eligible to play, with him not in the 25-man Premier League Squad.
But of the 10 that would be available, six are considered as ruled out. They are Allan Saint-Maximin, DeAndre Yedlin, Dwight Gayle, Andy Carroll, Florian Lejeune and Matt Ritchie, who was the latest to be added to the list.
Full-backs Emil Krafth (Quadricep) and Jetro Willems (hamstring) are both listed as having just a 25 per cent chance of playing, after both were forced off injured on Wednesday.
But it is better news for Joelinton and Miguel Almiron, who both are thought to have a 75 per cent chance of being available.
Watford on the other hand, have the least injuries in the division, with only one player – Troy Deenie – ruled out, and no other injury issues.
Referee: Graham Scott
The Oxfordshire official is in charge of Newcastle for the sixth time – four in the Premier League, and two in the Championship – and it is only his second game at St James’ Park.
We have not won any of the games he has officiated in the top division, but did win both of those in the Championship.
Scott does not seem to be a card-waving referee, with him only brandishing one yellow card across the two Premier League games he has been in charge of this season.
He has also only booked four Toon players from all six Newcastle games he has refereed in – three of those in last season’s draw at Wolves, while only booking six opposing players.
He did, however, award Mo Salah the controversial penalty at Anfield during the 4-0 Boxing Day defeat, for which the Egyptian went down from very minimal contact.
Points to prove
Newcastle will want to show they can replicate the performance and result from Tottenham last Sunday, where their defensive display was phenomenal.
But they need to show they can win from the front foot too, with them expected to have more possession against a struggling Watford, and will need to take the game to the visitors.
They will also need to deal with playing under differing expectations, with Steve Bruce’s side able to play free from pressure in London last week, adopting a nothing-to-lose approach.
They will be expected to win this week, however, and with that comes a different kind of pressure.
Watford will be trying to keep their manager in his job.
They will be hurt from being the only pointless side in the Premier League, and will be looking to rectify the situation on Tyneside.
In many ways, their approach could be similar to Newcastle’s at Spurs. They have little to lose, and will likely try to emulate what the Magpies achieved in the Capital.
Likely formations
Newcastle’s injuries may force them to change their approach on Saturday. There is little doubt Bruce prefers a three centre-back with two wing-back lineup, but with the number of injuries to wide defenders, he may be inclined to switch Dummett wide and play a flat back four.
Fans would be receptive to the more attacking lineup, and it would be no surprise to see them adopt the 4-4-2, or 4-4-1-1 formation against Watford.
The visitors have played with some odd formations in their three Premier League games to date.
They played 4-2-2-2 in their opening two defeats, followed by a 4-1-2-1-2 in their last loss. Neither of those formations contain much scope for width, with them incorporating narrow roles for two banks of midfielders and both strikers.
They reverted to a traditional 4-4-2 for their game against League One Coventry in the Carabao Cup, which saw them finally pick up a win.
With the failure of his narrower, more compact tactics in the three league defeats, it will be interesting to see if Gracia will be brave enough to stick with the 4-4-2 against a top flight side, with his future possibly on the line.
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