Our toughest and most important run of 2024/25 starts here in what promises to be a season-defining four weeks for Newcastle United.
A trip to Man City is followed by Nottingham Forest (H) and Liverpool (A) in the league, an FA Cup fifth round tie at home to Brighton and a trip to West Ham on Monday 10th March; just a few days before the Carabao Cup Final against Arne Slot’s Reds.
Starting with this Saturday’s test, our aggregate score at the Etihad is a whopping 54-8 in Man City’s favour and we’ve not won since goals from Rolando Aarons and Moussa Sissoko dumped them out the League Cup 11 years ago.
However, our away form has been quietly impressive over the last 12 months and we’re up against a City side who haven’t looked the same beast this season.
Stopping Erling Haaland is never an easy task and Guardiola remains an elite coach, but they have an ageing and slow midfield that sorely misses Rodri and a defence that looks fragile and open, especially on the break.
Despite momentum-building cup successes against Arsenal and Birmingham over the past 10 days, we’ve lost two of our last three league games and would head into a vital month with huge confidence if we can pull off an upset here.
On Man City challenge – “We know it will be a very difficult game. They are still a very good team, for me they are still the benchmark, we will have to try and deliver our best performance to get the result we want from this match. They have a very good squad, have made some good additions in January. We need to produce in all aspects of our play to be competitive.”
On injuries – “Anthony [Gordon] should be fine; he has trained this week. It was a thigh problem, but he has responded well to treatment over the weekend.
“It’s good news on Sven’s [Botman] scan, no long-term issue. Short term still some pain, we think he misses this weekend.
“Dan [Burn], he had a scan which was good, he has improved a lot very quickly, so he could be close this weekend.
“Harvey [Barnes], I am really pleased with how he has looked, he is not far at all, another one that can soon be in contention.”
“Joelinton is making good progress. We hope by that time [Carabao Cup Final] he will be back fit and available. He is very driven to get back.
Anthony Gordon (quad) is to return, Sven Botman (knee) looks set to miss out and Dan Burn (groin) is “very close” after recovering quickly from a knock at Birmingham.
Joelinton (knee) is making good progress and Harvey Barnes (thigh) is close to returning, although both look set to miss out at Man City along with Jamaal Lascelles (ACL).
For Man City, Manuel Akanji and Jack Grealish have joined Rodri on the sidelines after picking up injuries in Tuesday night’s Champions League defeat to Real Madrid.
(4-3-3): Dubravka – Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall – Bruno, Tonali, Willock – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
Dubravka hasn’t given Howe a reason to drop him yet and I think Trippier will come back in at right-back after such a strong display in our 2-0 win over Arsenal last week.
At centre-back, we know Botman is out but it’s not totally clear if Burn will make it, despite the positive update on his groin issue. We could do with his physicality against Haaland so I get the feeling he’ll play, with Krafth ready to step in if he doesn’t start.
In midfield, Joelinton’s absence hands Willock a chance to step in and build on that brilliant display and two-goal contribution at Birmingham. That will be a huge lift for him and I expect Howe to reward his best performance of 2024/25 with a start at the Etihad.
Up top, the front three picks itself now Gordon has been passed fit to play. Hopefully Isak is at it against a City defence that looked fragile and full of errors in that midweek collapse against Real Madrid.
With Man City playing in physically and mentally draining midweek play-off against Real Madrid, which ended with two late goals for the Spaniards, this feels like a good time to face a City side who’ve shipped 15 goals in their last six games.
We’ve been largely poor in our last three, losing twice at home and winning at Southampton despite an awful start, but this is a big chance for this team to show what they are all about.
I fear Botman will be a big miss up against Haaland, especially if Burn doesn’t start, but I think the energy and quality from midfield could be key, with Gordon and Isak also nightmare opposition for a City defence struggling to cope with fast counter attacks.
Isak to score again in an entertaining draw at the Etihad.
Prediction: Man City 2-2 Newcastle
Howay the lads!