Newcastle v Aston Villa: Match Preview, Team News, Prediction

1 day ago

3 min read

Saturday 17 October 2026 | St James' Park | Kick-off 5:30pm | Live on Sky Sports

Newcastle United return to St James' Park this evening looking for a much-needed response after Monday's embarrassing 4–1 defeat at Coventry City.

Unfortunately, the visitors are Aston Villa, fresh from a 6–0 Champions League victory over Fenerbahçe on Wednesday.

Two teams approaching this fixture in very different moods.

Newcastle desperately need to restore some confidence, while Villa will arrive believing they can take all three points.

For Matthias Jaissle, this could be one of his most important matches since taking charge.

His 4231 system is not working and the weaknesses - open spaces between the lines leading to far too many shots, chances and goals conceded - are showing no sign of improvement.

Some fans are already questioning whether our young manager is up to the job of managing in the PL and he is now in the classic 'stick or twist' position of keeping his 4231 or changing to a 433 or 352 to halt our flaky, concerning, performances.

If he sticks with 4231, and especially with a starting eleven very similar to the one at Coventry, and we lose, that will be three defeats in four games and at least ten goals conceded.

Before the start of the season the consensus among fans was that it could be a bumpy ride after losing top senior players and bringing in mostly youngsters in their place - and that we needed to be patient and cut Jaissle some slack.

That was the theory...

However the reality of our performances, two heavy defeats in three games, and concerns that Jaissle will persist with 4231 come what may, has already drastically weakened the patience of some fans.

Now, so early in the season, today's match is a big test not only for our manager but also for the reaction of fans if we suffer yet another defeat, and especially if it is a heavy one.

Newcastle Team News

There is some encouraging news, with Joelinton potentially ready to make his first Premier League start of the season.

The Brazilian returned as a substitute against Coventry, and Jaissle has indicated that he is further along in his recovery than Dan Burn, who is unlikely to start.

However, Newcastle remain without Anthony Elanga, Jacob Ramsey, Tino Livramento and goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen.

Bazoumana Touré is a doubt after picking up a knock against Coventry, although Jaissle is hopeful he will be available.

Will Osula is apparently fit to start and it will be no surprise to blog readers that I want him to - we desperately need his height, aggression and ability to hold the ball up something which Pardo for all his talents totally lacks.

I'd move Pardo out wide to replace Murphy, play Steur as a 10, and put Jo alongside Nico in the two to give us more physicality and tackling presence in front of the defence.

Do I expect Jaissle to follow my selection preferences?

No.

Some perhaps, but not all, but whoever he selects I hope he gets it right and we get the win we desperately need.

Prediction

Just as in our previous three matches my thoughts are exactly the same...

I wouldn't be surprised at any performance and result, including a heavy defeat.

Unfortunately, in two of those three games a heavy defeat is exactly what we got and, it pains me to say it, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Villa stuck us on the end of another one.

Although they haven't hit the heights early doors in the PL they are a formidable team with a top manager, and their 6-0 thrashing of Fenerbahce will see them come to SJP with their tails up and confident of a win.

For me the result will go down to who Jaissle has available to start and who he selects.

I'm not expecting him to deviate from 4231 and if he hasn't worked some tactical magic in training this week, and leaves out Jo and Osula, then I can't see us stemming what is sure to be a front foot attacking plan that Emery will surely have for the game.

So, my usual fiver is going on a 2-2 draw.