Match Pack: Newcastle vs Saints

Newcastle United vs Southampton

Premier League

St James’ Park

Saturday 28th August, 3pm BST

Referee: Paul Tierney

Assistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Ian Hussin

Fourth official: John Brooks

VAR: Mike Dean

Assistant VAR: Dan Robathan

For the first time in 2021/22, Saints will be in their new away kit for the trip to the north-east, wearing their yellow with blue trim top, blue shorts, and yellow socks.

With both sides chasing a first win of the season, three points would provide a timely boost heading into the international break.

Saints head to the north-east in buoyant mood, with Wednesday’s 8-0 demolition of Newport in the Carabao Cup building on last weekend’s impressive draw with Manchester United.

Conversely, Steve Bruce is under early pressure after two league defeats and a cup exit at the hands of Burnley in midweek.

With St James’ Park hosting its 500th Premier League match, Ralph Hasenhüttl will be hoping his side can spoil the occasion.

Having missed the last two matches, Stuart Armstrong remains an absentee with a calf injury, joining Will Smallbone on the sidelines.

For the hosts, Allan Saint-Maximin is expected to be fit following a foot problem, while Paul Dummett returns following a calf problem.

Isaac Hayden’s fitness will be decided late on with the midfielder struggling with a knee injury.

“We're disappointed but some of the stuff we've played I've been very pleased with. Performances have been decent. We played well in spells at Villa, in the first half in particular, but we haven't got any points on the board so with an international break coming up, it would be nice to get up and running.”

“It’s a tough game like every year. We haven’t played our best games there and we need to play a good one or we cannot take something there. I’m looking forward to turning things around at this ground.”

The former Bournemouth winger has adapted well to operating primarily as a wing-back.

Creating nine chances from the opening two Premier League games of the season, Saints will need to stop the hosts’ attacking outlet from source.

Adam Armstrong: The Newcastle academy graduate made 15 Premier League appearances for The Magpies between 2014 and 2015, but will be looking to mark his 18th top flight appearance in style.

Having netted on his debut at Everton a fortnight ago, Armstrong will be determined to show his former employers what they’re missing.

TOP PERFORMERS

Newcastle:

Goals:
Wilson, Murphy 1

Assists:
Ritchie, Saint-Maximin 1

Southampton:

Goals:
Mohamed Elyounoussi 3
Armando Broja 2
Redmond, Tella, Walker-Peters, A. Armstrong 1

Assists:
Elyounoussi, Ward-Prowse 2
Redmond, Walker-Peters, Adams 1

Played: 100

Newcastle: 40

Draws: 23

Saints: 37

February 2021: Newcastle 3-2 Saints (Minamino, Ward-Prowse)

November 2020: Saints 2-0 Newcastle (Adams, Armstrong)

March 2020: Saints 0-1 Newcastle (Saint-Maximin)

December 2019: Newcastle 2-1 Saints (Ings)

April 2019: Newcastle 3-1 Saints (Lemina)

DID YOU KNOW?

- Theo Walcott has been involved in more Premier League goals against Newcastle than he has any other side in the competition (11 – five goals, six assists). Five of these goal involvements came in a single game back in December 2012 (three goals, two assists).

- Adam Armstrong – who made 15 top-flight appearances for Newcastle between March 2014 and May 2015 – scored in his first away Premier League appearance for Saints in the defeat at Everton.

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