Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe says he has no problem with people labelling today’s clash against Tottenham Hotspur as “the biggest game of the season”. And that’s because it probably is.
Excluding February’s Carabao Cup final with Manchester United, there hasn’t been more riding on a game until now, as the Premier League table quite clearly shows.
The potential prize? Champions League football. Sat in the driving seat are Newcastle, and a win at St James’ Park will see them go six points above their fifth place visitors, and still with a game in-hand to play.
Both teams head into the fixture on the back of a defeat, and with their fair amount of injury problems. While Spurs win on quantity, Howe is without one of his most dangerous performers in Allan Saint-Maximin.
Here, NewcastleWorld takes a look at the players ruled out of today’s game - and those that are doubtful:
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1. Emil Krafth - out
Krafth is recovering well from the ACL injury he sustained in August but isn’t expected to return until next season. Photo: Gualter Fatia
2. Ryan Fraser - out
Fraser has spent the last couple of months training with the under-21s after falling out with Howe. Photo: Ian MacNicol
3. Yves Bissouma - out
Bissouma is recovering from ankle surgery.
4. Lucas Moura - out
Moura is eligible to feature after being red carded in Spurs’ 1-1 draw at Everton last month. Photo: Stu Forster