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Festive cheer will be in abundance at St James’ Park this week as Newcastle prepare for a long-awaited return to competitive action, and Howe’s side have only known how to win in the final few months of the calendar year.
The Magpies entered the World Cup break on a six-game winning streak in all competitions – surging to third in the Premier League table after winning each of their last five in the top flight – but they needed penalties to overcome Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup third round after a goalless draw.
Tranmere Rovers also fell to Newcastle’s superiority in the second round of the EFL Cup, and two winter friendlies with Al Hilal and Rayo Vallecano earlier this month ended in 5-0 and 2-1 successes for Howe’s men respectively.
Sean Longstaff and Chris Wood were on target against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday before Matt Targett‘s own goal cancelled out the clean sheet, and a second EFL Cup quarter-final appearance in three seasons is within touching distance for Newcastle, who also made it to the last eight in 2020-21.
However, not since reaching the final in the 1975-76 season have the Magpies managed to go further than the quarter-finals, but restoring the glory days of silverware is high on the agenda for the club’s new owners and Howe, who will have no room for sentiment on Tuesday.
A wholly positive interim period for Gary O’Neil convinced the Cherries board to hire the 39-year-old as their new permanent manager, with negotiations apparently breaking down with Marcelo Bielsa, and his Cherries side found a taste for goals with 12 strikes in their last four games before the World Cup.
Christmas does not bring a welcoming fixture list for Bournemouth, though, as they resume Premier League duties away to Chelsea on December 27, and they travel to Newcastle having failed to win any of their last four away matches – drawing two before suffering back-to-back losses to West Ham United and Leeds United.
Three quarter-final exits in 2015, 2018 and 2019 represent the Cherries’ furthest runs in the EFL Cup to date, and Bournemouth managed to come away from St James’ Park with a 1-1 Premier League draw in September, but the Magpies are now unbeaten in six versus their Southern counterparts since a 1-0 loss in November 2017.
Updates regarding Newcastle’s two main strikers have dominated the pre-match talk at St James’ Park, and Howe has conceded that Alexander Isak is unlikely to be back from a calf problem in time for Tuesday’s game, while Callum Wilson and Bruno Guimaraes are uncertain following their World Cup quarter-final exits.
Ex-Bournemouth man Wilson sustained a knock in Qatar which will also need a quick once-over, while Paul Dummett, Emil Krafth and Joelinton also take up spots in the treatment room, with the latter pulling up with a tight hamstring in the friendly win over Al-Hilal.
Fabian Schar missed the win over Rayo Vallecano due to illness and is doubtful too, but with six days in between Tuesday’s game and a Premier League Boxing Day fixture with Leicester City, Howe should still name a strong XI here.
Wing king Allan Saint-Maximin will also need a once-over after coming off against Rayo Vallecano, but Howe is hopeful that the Frenchman has avoided a serious problem.
As for Bournemouth, Wales duo Kieffer Moore and Chris Mepham were the only Cherries representatives in Qatar, and the pair are sure to be available here after the Dragons’ group-stage elimination.
Lloyd Kelly is also back in training and available for selection, but goalkeeper Neto (hamstring) and winger David Brooks (thigh) are not quite ready to return from their spells in the treatment room just yet
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Sharing something in common with World Cup runners-up France, a sickness bug has made its way through the Bournemouth squad this week, and O’Neil has conceded that he will have to make last-minute calls on some players.
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Pope; Trippier, Lascelles, Botman, Targett; Shelvey, Longstaff, Willock; Murphy, Wood, Almiron
Bournemouth possible starting lineup:
Travers; Smith, Mepham, Senesi, Zemura; Tavernier, Cook, Lerma, Billing; Moore, Solanke