Two 4-1 hammerings in five games. That’s the sort of stat that keeps a manager awake. Newcastle collapsed at Leeds, collapsed again at Coventry, and in between they edged Hull 2-1, won 1-0 at Millwall and drew 2-2 with Bournemouth. Now Aston Villa roll into St James’ Park on Saturday, 17 October, kick-off 16:30 UTC, and Matthias Jaissle has a puzzle to solve.
Who’s missing?
The treatment room won’t help him. Valentino Livramento and Jacob Ramsey are both doubtful, Anthony Elanga’s knock should settle around now, and Bazoumana Touré’s leg problem rules him out until late October. Ewen Jaouen won’t see a pitch until early December after his hamstring injury. Livramento’s absence stings most, because it hands the right-back slot to someone else.
Newcastle United predicted XI vs Aston Villa
Here’s what I think Jaissle goes with in a 4-2-3-1: Lukás Hornícek in goal, a back four of Lewis Miley, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman and Lewis Hall, Nico González and Joseph Willock in the engine room, and Jacob Murphy, Yoane Wissa and Harvey Barnes behind Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
Miley at right-back is the eyebrow-raiser. He’s a midfielder by trade, a lad who reads the game well, and Jaissle clearly trusts him to cover the gap. Thiaw and Botman give the middle some height and some nerve. Hall bombs forward on the left whenever Barnes drifts inside.
Can Jaissle’s patched-up XI stop Newcastle’s slide against Villa?
Honestly, yes, but only just. Villa will spot Miley’s flank within ten minutes and hammer it with quick switches, so González must shuffle across to help. That leaves Willock alone in front of the centre-backs, and he’s no destroyer. Newcastle have shipped eight in two games, and one loose pass in midfield starts the nightmare again.
Still, the front four carry real pace. Murphy and Barnes love space, Wissa runs the channels all day, and counters will create chances if Newcastle sit compact. Fernandez-Pardo is the gamble, young and raw, yet he’ll chase lost causes, and that matters. I’d back a draw, probably 2-2, with Newcastle scrapping for a late equaliser. A win would be a bonus. A third heavy defeat would be a disaster.
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Lukáš Horníček – Lewis Miley, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, Lewis Hall – Nico González, Joseph Willock – Jacob Murphy, Yoane Wissa, Harvey Barnes – Matías Fernández-Pardo.
