Newcastle United are looking to make history on Saturday lunchtime when they host Bournemouth in the Premier League.
The Magpies secured their ninth consecutive victory in all competitions on Wednesday after triumphing against Wolves, with three points against Bournemouth setting a new club record for successive wins. Star striker Alexander Isak is chasing his own record having now scored in eight consecutive league games, with Jamie Vardy’s 11-match scoring streak the current standard.
After a mediocre beginning to the campaign, the Magpies are now firmly in the frame for Champions League qualification having risen to fourth in the standings. They sit above Chelsea and Manchester City in the table following their reinvigoration.
Bournemouth will be challenging customers, however, and are themselves enjoying an impressive run. Unbeaten in their last ten matches in all competitions, they know victory at St James’ Park will move them within a single point of their Tyneside opponents as Andoni Iraola continues to mastermind the Cherries’ ascent despite relentless injuries.
Newcastle will be keen to see Fabian Schar return this weekend after he missed the victory over Wolves through illness. Jamaal Lascelles continues to be absent at centre-back, too, while Nick Pope is still on the sidelines with a knee injury.
The injury-prone Harvey Barnes finds himself in the treatment room once again having sustained a thigh injury during the weekend victory over Bromley in the FA Cup. He’s expected to be out of action for a month, while Callum Wilson remains unavailable through a hamstring issue as well.
Newcastle lineup vs Bournemouth (4-3-3): Dubravka; Livramento, Botman, Schar, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
Bournemouth are enduring an injury crisis, with James Hill joining the treatment room following the midweek trip to Chelsea. He joins fellow right-backs Julian Araujo and Adam Smith on the sidelines, with Marcos Senesi also missing in defence.
Alex Scott, Enes Unal and Evanilson are all long-term absentees having each undergone surgery, although the former is edging closer to a return. Marcus Tavernier and Luis Sinisterra are also out of action, leaving Iraola short on attacking options.
Bournemouth lineup vs Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Cook, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Adams; Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo; Ouatarra.
