Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur team news: Sandro Tonali, Lewis Miley and Nick Woltemade all start at St James’ Park.
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Newcastle United are back in Premier League action against Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park tonight - with the team news now confirmed.
The Magpies head into the game eyeing a third successive Premier League win after victories over Manchester City and Everton. Eddie Howe’s side have also won each of their last six matches at St James’ Park in all competitions, including a 2-0 triumph over Spurs in the Carabao Cup in October.
Howe made six changes to his side at Everton on Saturday as they secured a 4-1 win at the Hill Dickinson Stadium thanks to goals from Lewis Miley and Nick Woltemade between a Malick Thiaw brace.
Spurs head into the game on the back of a poor run of results, with their only win in their last seven matches coming in the Champions League against FC Copenhagen. Thomas Frank’s side were beaten 2-1 at home to Fulham over the weekend.
Goalkeeper decision made
A big team selection talking point over the past couple of weeks has been Newcastle’s goalkeeper with Nick Pope’s place in the side coming under scrutiny after some goal-costing errors.
But a training ground injury to Pope saw him ruled out of the trip to Everton with Aaron Ramsdale coming into the side in his place. Pope is set to miss Newcastle’s next six matches due to a groin injury with Ramsdale now set for a run in the side.
And what was shaping up to be Howe’s most contentious team selection decision of the season has ultimately been taken out of the manager’s hands.
“It doesn't feel like that [decision is made for you] when you're me,” Howe explained. “I'm just making a decision like I do every week. Of course, every decision is a big decision,and that's how I look at it.
“I don't look at it as any one decision is bigger than the other. So, this dramatic showdown of decisions, that's not the reality. I was disappointed for Nick that he picked up the injury when he did, and disappointed for us, because we need him.”
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Teenager drafted into NUFC squad
Yoane Wissa is back training and has played in practice matches but is not yet ready to be named in the matchday squad as he recovers from a three-month knee injury absence.
The ongoing absence of Wissa and fellow forward William Osula has seen 18-year-old Sean Neave drafted into the Newcastle matchday squad once again as a potential attacking option. The teenage forward has shone at academy level and is no stranger to being named on the first-team bench, but he is still yet to make his competitive debut for the club.
"Every player is going to be needed, regardless of age and regardless of experience, there may be a time where they are called upon and we would trust on them to deliver,” Howe said ahead of the match.
"With Sean, he has been training with us for a period of time, he has got the ability to score a goal and he is with us on merit so let's wait and see."
Newcastle United team news confirmed
In addition to Pope, Wissa and Osula, Newcastle are also without Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman and Emil Krafth due to injury.
After the win at Everton, Howe has made two changes with Anthony Elanga and Bruno Guimaraes dropping to the bench in place of Jacob Murphy and Sandro Tonali.
NUFC XI v Spurs: Ramsdale; Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Miley, Joelinton; Murphy, Barnes, Woltemade
Subs: Ruddy, Schar, Gordon, Elanga, Willock, A.Murphy, Guimaraes, Ramsey, Neave