Attentions turn to the EFL Cup this week as the Magpies look to seek their place in the Semi-Final stages following their disappointing exit from the FA Cup at the weekend.
Leicester City are the visitors on Tuesday night to St James’ Park. The last time these two teams met was on boxing day, three first half goals from Chris Wood, Miguel Almiron and Joelinton easily dispatched the foxes on their home turf.
Newcastle have amassed a very credible 35 points from their opening 18 games during the first half of the season and sit comfortably in third place. A top four finish, something that was unthinkable during the Mike Ashely era, a very strong possibility if they keep up their good run off form for the second half of the campaign.
Whilst their 2-1 defeat will be frustrating for some fans, the majority of them won’t be too disheartened as their main focus will be on maintaining their form in the Premier League and their upcoming Quarter Final clash in the EFL Cup.
Newcastle started their EFL Cup campaign away to Tranmere Rovers back in August before home ties in the next two rounds against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth. They didn’t make things easy for themselves though as they had to fight back from an early Elliott Neville goal against Tranmere, Jamaal Lascelles and Chris Wood providing the goals either side of half time to complete the turnaround at Prenton Park. The Magpies had to resort to penalties in their third-round encounter against fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace on home soil. Heroics from Nick Pope who saved three penalties helped his side through to the fourth round. Eddie Howe’s former side Bournemouth visited St James’ Park in round four and they have Adam Smith to thank for turning the ball into his own net which proved to be the only goal of the tie.
Brendan Roger’s Leicester City side got their EFL Cup campaign off to a tough start. After a goalless 90minutes at Edgeley Park, they too had to rely on penalties to see them through against Stockport County. Comprehensive victories followed in the next two rounds, 3-0 victories at home to Newport County and way to Milton Keynes set them up with their Quarter Final trip to the northeast. They have had more favourable draws than their hosts this week but they will be positive of leaving St James’ Park with a place in the Semi-Final’s.
Newcastle Team News: Eddie Howe has hinted that he is going to field a full-strength side against Leicester in their bid to reach the Semi-Final stage. Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff are expected to be named as a midfield trio. Nick Pope is expected to return between the sticks in the place of Martin Dubravka. It is unknown whether Callum Wilson or Alexander Isak will start upfront. Allan Saint-Maximin is unlikely to feature as he recovers from flu.
Leicester City Team News: Marc Albrighton is set to continue his run in the starting eleven despite Dennis Praet making good progress in his return from injury. Wilfred Ndidi and Youri Tieleman’s are expecting to start in the middle of the park. Jamie Vardy could start but his place is under threat from Patson Daka.
Sutty’s Match Prediction: Although I expect Brendan Rogers to make tactical changes to the side that got battered by the Magpies on boxing day, I can’t see it being enough to snatch victory at St James’s Park. Even though goals have been hard to come by in the recent weeks, the 12th man of SJP will be enough to spur the lads on and see them reach the final four stage, providing we field a full-strength side. My score prediction being Newcastle United 1 Leicester City 0.
@jsuttonwrites
09.01.2023
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