Newcastle United vs Bournemouth LIVE: Three changes as Bruno returns to squad

Live updates as Eddie Howe's Magpies face Bournemouth in today's Premier League clash at St James' Park with United desperate for a positive result and performance

Key Events

Team news

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Gordon injury blow

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Bruno's back

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Eddie Howe on his future

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Tonali speaks

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Newcastle's poor Bournemouth record

Newcastle are winless in their last seven matches against Bournemouth, conceding in all seven of their previous home matches against the Cherries.

Today's visitors have won three of those seven matches at St James' Park, only beating Wolves on more occasions on their travels in the Premier League.

Team news verdict

Eddie Howe has stuck to his principles with William Osula and despite questions in Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, the pair are on the bench.

Interesting shout on Sandro Tonali named as skipper today ahead of perhaps Botman or Thiaw at the back.

Nevertheless, this is a Newcastle team that have to turn up today. It is a gamble not playing Woltemade.

Captain Tonali

Sandro Tonali will captain Newcastle this afternoon with leadership group members Bruno Guimaraes, Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Jacob Murphy and Dan Burn all on the bench.

Big honour for the midfielder but it also represents a shift from Howe away from the veterans in the camp, a week on after he suggested he was picking a 'young, dynamic' side at Crystal Palace.

Team news view

That team again

Three changes for Newcastle

It's all change out wide for Newcastle with Harvey Barnes replacing the injured Anthony Gordon on the left and Anthony Elanga replacing Jacob Murphy, who struggled last weekend, on the right.

Jacob Ramsey replaces Joelinton in midfield, with the Brazilian missing through suspension, with Bruno Guimaraes only fit enough for a place on the bench.

Bournemouth team news

Bournemouth team vs Newcastle: Petrovic; Jimenez, Senesi, Hill, Truffert; Scott, Christie; Rayan, Kroupi Jr, Tavernier; Evanilson

Subs: Mandas, Brooks, Gannon-Doak, Adams, Smith, Diakite, Adli, Unal, Toth

Team news

Newcastle team news vs Bournemouth: Ramsdale; Livramento, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Miley, Tonali, Ramsey; Elanga, Barnes; Osula

Subs: Pope, Trippier, Wissa, J Murphy, A Murphy, Woltemade, Willock, Burn, Guimaraes

Team news at 1:45pm

Stick with us for updates...

NUFC form

Howe knows things have to change.

Our home form has always been the bedrock of our success. Our home form has got away from us in recent weeks and it is our number one priority to try and get it back. The benefits of playing at home are huge for us. There's tremendous support for us and we need to try and tap back into that. That's us and not the fans.

Gordon injury blow

Newcastle will be without Anthony Gordon this afternoon as he will miss today's game with tightness in his hip flexor. A scan showed a slight injury.

Bruno's back

Whether or not he starts remains to be seen but a huge boost for Newcastle to have their captain back.

Players arrive

Reporting for duty

Harry Redknapp's prediction

The former Tottenham manager is backing a 1-1 draw this afternoon. He told BetVictor:

It’s a really difficult time for Newcastle and for Eddie. They didn’t play well at Selhurst last week and it just looks like the season will peter out for them. Bournemouth were magnificent at the Emirates last week, one of their best performances all season. Right now, they’re full of confidence and are on this amazing unbeaten run. I think Newcastle will respond here but I can’t see Bournemouth losing in this form. 1-1. one to watch - I thought Alex Scott was just fantastic last week. Keep that up and he might just sneak on that plane to America.

Howe's Bournemouth verdict

This is what Howe had to say about his old club

"We are under no illusions this is a tough game; they are a very good team. They are on a great run in the Premier League. They’ve got clear strengths. We know what we need to do to win the game."

Dan Burn's pre-match message

Writing in his leadership column in the matchday programme, Burn said:

We're back home this afternoon with a determination to put things right. The Premier League is the hardest league in the world for a reason, because everyone can beat everyone. That's the same for us - we've not shown our full quality for a lot of games this season. So it's about showing that now. Some things are going against us but other things we're bringing on ourselves. It helpts that we've got these long weeks to prepare and we've got time on the pitch to go through mistkaes that we're making and try and rectify them. The way the gaffer and the staff work, they're on it straight away. It's an important time for us, and this is why you have leadership groups - it's not always the good runs or the nice times but it's also when you're having some bad results, you have to show your experience and get the team moving. As a leadership group, it's time to reinforce the messages the gaffer wants to get across. First and foremost, it's how we're seen around the training ground. Sometimes you get a feel from the older players how it's going around the dressing room. We've got to be the face of that and make sure we're pushing everyone as much as possible. Then the rest of the squad will react. We're not miles away from the European spots. We just need to put a run together.

Eddie Howe's programme notes

The Newcastle head coach has used his programme notes to discuss how the Magpies plan to respond to last weekend's disappointment against Bournemouth.

He said:

That's something we've looked at honestly and constructively, because the standards we set ourselves demand better. We also have to use the negative emotions felt in defeat to strengthen our collective determination to respond in the right way. We're pleased to have a strong group back together after the recent international fixtures, with players returning from injury adding competition and energy as we move into a crucial period. The feeling around the place has been positive, focused and together. With six Premier League matches remaining and 18 points still to play for, our objective is clear and shared - to take as many points as we can and finish the season with momentum. We want to show the very best version of ourselves - the version that works relentlessly for each other, plays with technical excellence, courage and intensity, and has already shown it can compete with the best teams in this league and beyond. Every game now is an opportunity, and we intend to approach each one with belief and togetherness.

WATCH

Lee Ryder's match preview

Alan Shearer's prediction

The Newcastle United legend is backing a draw this afternoon.

He told Betfair:

I've got no belief in Newcastle winning. That's the problem. I don't know what Newcastle are going to turn up. When they get into the lead, they can't get that second goal, and that's hurt them so many times this season. I was massively impressed with Bournemouth last weekend with how they played at Arsenal. Some really top performances from a lot of players, and their recruitment's been good. I know Iraola’s announced he's not going to be there next season. That will be a huge loss for them. I just think his style of play, how brave he's been, and that was summed up at going to Arsenal last weekend. They press ridiculously high, do it really well and make it difficult for the opposition. After selling so many of their players at the end of last season, or the beginning of the season, to get through and get the recruitment that they have done is a huge plus for him and for Bournemouth, so they'll miss him, definitely. As much as I'd love to see a Newcastle win, I don't feel confident in saying that, so I'm going to say a draw.

WATCH

Sean McCormick's match preview

Selection pledge

Eddie Howe will only pick those players 100% committed to NUFC.

I discuss things with players all the time. I don't discuss transfer speculation unless it gets to a point I have to. One thing I will not do I will not play any play any player I don't think is 100% committed to the club. I'm not talking about Anthony there, I am talking across the board.

Premier League table

Work to do, but a European charge isn't over yet.

Premier League fixtures

Here's who's playing who this weekend

TODAY

Brentford vs Fulham (12.30pm)

Leeds United vs Wolves (3pm)

Newcastle vs Bournemouth (3pm)

Tottenham vs Brighton (5.30pm)

Chelsea vs Manchester United (8pm)

SUNDAY

Nottingham Forest vs Burnley (2pm)

Aston Villa vs Sunderland (2pm)

Everton vs Liverpool (2pm)

Manchester City vs Arsenal (4.30pm)

MONDAY

Crystal Palace vs West Ham (8pm)

Eddie Howe on his future

The NUFC head coach has endured a week of speculation over his long-term future, but was adamant he is up to the challenge.

I just want serve the club and do what’s right for the football club. That’s always been my aim. If that’s me leaving to help the club, then of course that’s something I’ll do, I’ve got no issue doing that. It’s not about me. But if I believe I’m the right person to take the club forward, which I do currently right now, then I’ll do that and I’ll fight to the end. I’ll fight harder than I’ve ever fought before, but it’s about making sure that those two things are aligned.I can understand why people would look at it and say that [there’s going to be a summer of change]. There’s a few players out of contract and you’ve got some big players who have done amazing things for the club maybe entering their final few months of their time here. You’ve got possibly players leaving in the summer and that natural evolution on that side, which happens at a football club. So, I can understand why the ‘end of a cycle’ might be used. What that looks like is unknown. It’s always unknown. It’s almost impossible to predict a summer transfer window and say, ‘This will happen’ or ‘That will happen’. It’s been impossible in every window I’ve ever managed because the moving forces in football are so difficult to predict. But I think the key thing for the football club, and for me as the manager, is to make sure we come out stronger for it. That’s with smart decisions, good decisions, and good recruitment. However the next few months looks, it’s about making sure we’re stronger, and to do that you need your processes and departments in place that can run that in an elite way."In terms of my fire, my fire is burning very, very strongly. That’s no guarantee from my side what’s going to happen in the future because as I’ve said, the forces that move in football clubs move quickly. But my fire is there. There’s loads of wood stacked up and I’m ready to put it on it."

Tonali speaks

United midfielder Sandro Tonali has spoken about being the subject of transfer speculation, but insisted it's not something he takes any notice of. The Italian has been linked with Arsenal, Man City and Real Madrid, but he is only focused on playing for Newcastle.

"In football if you play well you have to deal with the transfer rumours, but if you concentrate 100% on your game, and you’re happy, you don’t have to think about anything or speak about anything."

Read more here

Pick your NUFC XI

How many changes would you make after the peformance at Crystal Palace? Are you bringing Bruno straight back? And what about the attacking options?

Pick your NUFC starting XI here.

Welcome

Morning everyone and welcome to our live coverage of Newcastle United vs Bournemouth from St James' Park.

It feels a long time since we were last here, and United have something to prove today. There has been a lot of understandably negativity over the last month, but a positive performance and result this afternoon can go some way to alleviating that.

Eddie Howe came out fighting in his pre-match media briefing on Friday, so now it's down to the players to deliver.

All the build up on the way right here.

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