Southampton vs Newcastle United
Date: 06/11/2020
K/O: 20:00
Venue: St. Mary’s
Referee: Peter Bankes
TV: Sky Sports
Southampton begin the first of several games without Danny Ings on Friday night as they welcome Newcastle to the South Coast.
Ings has begun a six-week recovery programme after sustaining a knee injury against Aston Villa that will require surgery. Saints could also be without defenders Jan Bednarek and Ryan Bertrand as well as midfielder Ibrahima Diallo. Newcastle remain without Matt Ritchie, Martin Dubravka and Jonjo Shelvey but are buoyed by the return to training of Ciaran Clark, Paul Dummett and Matty Longstaff.
Both sides have enjoyed successful starts to the season, with Saints in fifth on 13 points and Newcastle 11th, two points further back.
Team News
Southampton
Saints’ impressive 4-3 victory at Aston Villa last weekend appears to have come at a cost, with Danny Ings the headline injury in addition to Bednarek, Bertrand and Diallo. The club have since confirmed that Ings’ setback requires surgery, ruling the forward out for six weeks, though two of those coincide with an international break.
With the prolific frontman out, the door is ajar for either Shane Long or Michael Obafemi to stake their claim alongside Ings’ usual partner Che Adams. Theo Walcott and Nathan Redmond are also options in that area, though both appear more likely to continue in a supportive role in midfield. Free kick maestro James Ward-Prowse will captain the side from midfield once again, likely alongside Oriol Romeu. Stuart Armstrong has impressed since he recovered from Covid-19 and will likely partner either Walcott or Redmond in the link between midfield and attack.
With Jan Bednarek’s participation far from guaranteed, Jack Stephens could return to partner Jannik Vestergaard. Summer signing Mohammed Salisu is another option, though the 21-year-old Ghanaian is yet to appear for Saints so far this season. If Ryan Bertrand fails to recover in time, Ralph Hasenhuttl may call on academy graduate Jake Vokins for his first appearance of the campaign. Vokins has himself struggled with injury in recent weeks and may not be ready. In this case, Kyle Walker-Peters could move across from the right, with Yan Valery replacing him on his usual side.
Alex McCarthy is expected to continue in goal, with fellow Englishman Fraser Forster set for a backup role once more.
Newcastle United
With no fresh injury concerns and the imminent return of Matty Longstaff, Ciaran Clark and Paul Dummett, Newcastle are in a good position as the international break approaches. Steve Bruce has started with a back three in their most recent two games, the draw with Wolves and victory over Everton. With Southampton’s defensive difficulties so far generally coming from teams who attack them with pace and aim to get in behind, Newcastle appear likely to continue to set up to contain and counter.
Karl Darlow has impressed in the absence of Martin Dubravka and will continue in goal, with Jamaal Lascelles set to captain the side from the centre of a back three, with Fabian Schär and Federico Fernández either side of the Englishman. Jamal Lewis looks set to continue on the left ahead of the returning Paul Dummett and more offensively minded Ryan Fraser. Jacob Murphy has impressed at right wing-back and could continue once more, while Isaac Hayden’s versatility means he could deputize on either flank should Bruce elect to rotate his side.
Jeff Hendrick has started every Premier League match so far and looks set to continue in midfield, with Ryan Fraser pushing for a recall having been dropped for the victory over Everton. Sean Longstaff started in place of Fraser on that occasion and could continue, though he also faces competition from brother Matty as well as Isaac Hayden.
Miguel Almiron has impressed in a central roaming role behind Allan Saint-Maximin and lone striker Callum Wilson, leaving Joelinton and Andy Carroll set for a spot on the bench once again.
Predicted Starting XIs:
Southampton (4-2-2-2): McCarthy; Valery, Vestergaard, Stephens, Walker-Peters; Romeu, Ward-Prowse; Armstrong, Walcott; Long, Adams
Newcastle (3-4-2-1): Darlow; Schär, Lascelles, Fernández; Murphy, Sean Longstaff, Hendrick, Lewis; Almiron, Saint-Maximin; Wilson
Score Prediction: Southampton 0-1 Newcastle
Southampton’s attack is a different beast without Danny Ings and Newcastle surely won’t afford James Ward-Prowse the same opportunities around the box. The Magpies themselves have been largely uninspiring in attack but always seem to score, so I can see them sneaking a win again here.
