Sports Mole preview Saturday’s Premier League clash between Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest Kick off their 2022-23 Premier League season with a game at St James’ Park on Saturday afternoon.
As the Magpies seek European qualification this season, newly-promoted Forest just want to mark their return to the top flight after more than two decades.
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With six wins from their last eight games in 2021-22, Newcastle are head coach Eddie Howe wouldn’t have wanted the season to end as his side consistently impressed in the warm-up period.
However, this saw the Magpies move on to the next phase of their development and set plans to launch a bid for European football over the next nine and a half months.
Fans would have loved to see an attacking player walk through the door at this point in the transfer window, but there are no complaints about the Burnley goalkeeper’s acquisitions Nick Pope and Lille defender Sven Botman.
The latter’s signing felt like a needle-puller as the Netherlands international turned down AC Milan as the next signees in this ongoing project, and a strong start to the season could see other high-profile names following the centre-back to the North East.
Although Newcastle had some mixed results in pre-season, they managed back-to-back victories against Atalanta BC and Athletic Bilbao last weekend.
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When Forest won the Championship play-off final against Huddersfield Town in May, many fans assumed a squad overhaul was unlikely given the performances of their existing side.
Steve Cooper and the club hierarchy thought otherwise, and up to 11 first-team signings were made ahead of their opening game.
That has yet to translate into results as Forest have won just two of their seven preseason games, including failing in one of their last three games.
However, a late equalizer to draw 1-1 at home with Valencia last Saturday has tipped Forest in the right direction ahead of a game where they will be happy to win as underdogs.
These two clubs have met seven times since Forest last played in the top flight in 1999, six of those games being in the league.
Form of Newcastle United:
Nottingham Forest form:
Team News
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Howe is expected to hand his debut to Pope and Botman, who will take their places between the sticks and in the middle of the backline, respectively.
With the squad split for the last two friendlies, the rest of the squad remains unclear but surprises are unlikely.
Sean Langstaff and Miguel Almiron hope to be preferred Joe Willockdepending on how Howe lines up in the final third.
Cooper chose to use it Brennan Johnson and Sam Surridge for the friendly against Valencia a sign for the new striker Taiwo Awoniyi may stand on the substitutes’ bench.
Jess Lingard will start behind the front two while Dean Henderson, Neko Williams, Harry Toffolo and Lewis O’Brien could also make their debut.
Newcastle United possible starting line-up:
pope; Trippier, Botman, Schar, Targett; Langstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin
Nottingham Forest possible starting line-up:
Henderson; Worrall, Cook, McKenna; N. Williams, Colback, O’Brien, Toffolo; Lingard; Johnson, Surridge
We say: Newcastle United 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Given the level of players signed by Forest, it would be naïve to exclude the visitors from an upset in the North East. Although Forest are likely to have a jump in the step, Newcastle’s greater quality and experience should shine through after the final whistle.
For data analysis of the most likely outcomes, goal scores and more for this game, please click here.
top tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com predict under 3.5 goals in this game. Click here to find out what else they predict for this game and for more of their football best tips.Under 3.5:Data