Newcastle United eased through the Championship last season, finishing top and earning promotion in convincing style, but their reintroduction to the Premier League didn’t start smoothly.
Paul Scholes was at his best as Manchester United played the Magpies off the park at Old Trafford on Monday night. Chris Hughton’s men rarely threatened in their opening game and went down 3-0 to the Red Devils.
If a poor opening day performance wasn’t enough for Newcastle, Mike Ashley has wound the Toon fans up once again. After splashing out on big money signings and big wages early in his tenure, the owner has been reluctant to hand out transfer funds this summer, giving Hughton just £1.5 million to spend on defender James Perch, although Sol Campbell’s wages won’t be cheap.
Despite going last season unbeaten at home in the league, Newcastle are seen as one of the favourites to go down this year. Their impressive record at St James’ Park could come to an end this weekend against the team that sent them down to the Championship in May 2009. It was Gareth Barry’s strike on the last day of the season that relegated the Magpies, and they’ll be looking for revenge on Sunday.
Caretaker’s chance to strengthen claim for full-time job
Martin O’Neill stunned fans when he resigned as Aston Villa boss just five days before the start of the season. A number of replacements have been linked with the vacant manager’s position, including USA boss Bob Bradley and even Diego Maradona, but it’s caretaker Kevin MacDonald who looks favourite at the moment.
The 49-year-old former Liverpool midfielder enjoyed his first taste of Premier League management last weekend with an impressive 3-0 win over West Ham United, when he gave youngsters whom he had managed in the reserve team a chance to shine, and they repaid him, with both Ciaran Clark and Marc Albrighton impressing in the victory.
He made a brave move in his second game in charge by making eight changes for Thursday’s Europa League play-off with Rapid Vienna, but it worked as youngster Barry Bannan was on target in a 1-1 away draw.
The Scot, who has been on the backroom staff at Villa Park since 1995, has already made his first signing. Stephen Ireland has been brought in as part of the move that saw James Milner join Manchester City and although no more signings appear to be in the pipeline, the caretaker boss may be forced to move in the transfer market if a permanent manager isn’t brought in before the end of the transfer window.
TEAM NEWS
Newcastle United
Chris Hughton has no new injury worries and could name the same team that started against Manchester United.Sol Campbell is still not match fit, Peter Lovenkrands is doubtful again with a groin injury and midfielder Danny Guthrie is unlikely to feature due to a knee problem.
Leon Best and Danny Simpson (both knee) and Steven Taylor (shoulder) will miss out, while summer signing Dan Gosling (cruciate ligament) will not play again until next year.
Possible Starting XI: Harper; Perch, Williamson, Coloccini, Enrique; Routledge, Smith, Barton, Gutierrez; Nolan; Carroll.
Aston Villa
Stephen Ireland looks set to make his debut after completing his move to Villa Park earlier in the week, and he could take the place of the departed James Milner in midfield.Luke Young and Ciaran Clark could continue in defence as James Collins and Carlos Cuellar recover from their calf and hamstring injuries, respectively.
Ashley Young will play if he passes a late fitness test, while Villa’s only long-term absentee Fabian Delph will miss out once again with a knee injury.
Possible Starting XI: Friedel; L Young, Dunne, Clark, Warnock; Ireland, Petrov; Albrighton, A Young, Downing; Carew.
PREDICTION
Newcastle 1-1 Aston Villa 
