Eddie Howe confirms Newcastle United starting XI to face Aston Villa amid key fitness boost

Newcastle United are back in action this afternoon, and we already know the starting XI Eddie Howe has gone with to face Aston Villa.

A tough test awaits the Magpies at Villa Park, with Unai Emery’s Villa now in with a real shot of landing Europa League football this season following a superb run of form. Though, Newcastle have picked up just one less point in their last six games, and they have European ambitions of their own as they rock up at Villa Park.

Newcastle are currently on course to land a Champions League spot, going into this weekend three points clear of Tottenham in fifth, and with a game in-hand still to play. Ahead of this one, it was already known that Allan Saint-Maximin would miss out as he continues to battle his way back from a hamstring injury.

Although, the situation was less clear with Miguel Almiron, with the Paraguayan ahead of schedule in his recovery following a recent setback. We now know that Almiron has been deemed fit enough to make the bench.

In terms of the starting lineup, there is only one change from the win over Brentford, with Sean Longstaff dropping out for Anthony Gordon to come in. That’s despite Gordon’s apparant outburst towards Howe last weekend after he came on only to be substituted. Though, Howe later explained the decision was due to an injury concern.

To round-up the team in full, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn and Sven Botman make up the defence, ahead of Nick Pope. Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock and Joelinton make up the midfield, with Murphy, Gordon and Alexander Isak starting in the front three. Martin Dubravka, Jamaal Lascelles, Callum Wilson, Matt Ritchie, Matt Targett, Javi Manquillo, Miguel Almiron, Elliot Anderson and Sean Longstaff make up the Newcastle bench.

As for Villa, Ashley Young, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings and Alex Moreno start ahead of Emi Martinez at the back. Douglas Luiz John McGinn and Leander Dendoncker start in the middle, while Jacob Ramsey, Emi Buendia and Ollie Watkins start up top.

Newcastle (4-3-3) Pope; Burn, Botman, Schar, Trippier; Joelinton, Guimaraes, Willock; Murphy, Gordon, Isak.

Villa (4-4-3) Martinez, Young, Konsa, Mings, Moreno; Douglas Luiz, McGinn, Dendoncker; Ramsey, Buendia, Watkins.