Newcastle United v Aston Villa team news as eight players ruled out through injury

A win against Aston Villa this afternoon will guarantee Newcastle United remain in the Premier League top four for another weekend. The 2-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur saw the Magpies move into the Champions League places, and they aren’t ready to let that slip just yet.

Eddie Howe’s side have lost just once at St James’ Park in 2022 but Villa provide a tough challenge, especially after Steven Gerrard’s sacking and Unai Emery’s appointment. The former Arsenal boss won’t be in the dugout, however caretaker manager Aaron Danks will, fresh from leading his side to a 4-0 win over Brentford last Sunday.

Newcastle are set to welcome back Allan Saint-Maximin and Elliot Anderson to the matchday squad. Saint-Maximin has missed seven of the last eight matches due to a hamstring problem, while Anderson missed out against Spurs due to a knock.

“We’re going to see how training goes today but he’s made really good progress,” Howe said on Saint-Maximin yesterday. “I’m very pleased with how he’s attacked his rehab and the work he’s put in. Yeah, there’s an opportunity to hopefully get Maxi fit and available.”

However, United are still without five first-team players, with club-record signing Alexander Isak the standout in an absentee list that contains Karl Darlow, Matt Ritchie, Emil Krafth and Paul Dummett.

“Alex has been having a couple of injections into his thigh,” Howe revealed. “I believe that’s gone well and the medical team are happy with where he currently stands but it is a longer-term injury, I think it’s a five to six weeks injury. As I said before, he won’t be back before the World Cup break but we’re hopeful as we begin our second pre-season, he’s there ready to train.”

Meanwhile, Aston Villa are set to welcome back Lucas Digne into the matchday squad. The £25million January signing hasn’t featured since Villa’s 1-0 home victory over Southampton on September 16 after he picked up a heel injury in training.

Danks said: “Lucas Digne has done a full week of training with the group so we’ll welcome him back into the squad.” Elsewhere, Boubacar Kamara is edging closer to fitness but won’t be involved on Tyneside. Ludwig Augustinsson and Diego Carlos also remained sidelined.

“Boubacar is much closer, he’s not with the team yet but he’s back on the grass,” Danks added. [Other than that], it’s very much like we were last week. One or two little knocks and niggles that we’re going to have to manage through, but on the whole, really positive.”