Newcastle v West Brom: Inside track on the Magpies

We spoke with the team at NUFCBlog.co.uk, and Lee Ryder, Chief NUFC writer for The Chronicle, to get a proper look at Steve Bruce's side.

See what they had to say here...

How has the start of the season been for Newcastle so far?

NB: It's been a funny old start. We're eight points clear of the drop zone - something we've sadly become accustomed to focusing on during the Mike Ashley era - so look in a solid position in that respect, yet the brand of football under Steve Bruce has made it a gruelling watch so far.

In a way, our last outing summed up our season. It wasn't pretty and it could've gone either way, yet we came away from Palace with all three points!

OK, we'll probably stay up, but we often scrape by on moments of quality from Wilson or Saint-Maximin or ride our luck at the other end, making our approach feel unsustainable in the long run and any push for the top 10 improbable.

LR: It has been a mix of results really, some good away form and some disappointing defeats at home.

I said a while ago, when Newcastle win there is an element of fortune around it, when they lose they are pretty awful.

But if you had offered most people 14 points at this stage of the season I think they'd have taken it.

Newcastle are on course for another steady season regardless of what fans think of Steve Bruce.

The Magpies have been the most covid-affected club in the top flight, how much disruption has it caused the side over the past month or so exactly?

NB: It all started in the days leading up to our trip to Crystal Palace two weeks ago, with Steve Bruce confirming that three unnamed players were self-isolating.

Since then, COVID-cases have skyrocketed, our training base has been forced to close and our game with Aston Villa postponed last weekend as a result.

The club have kept things very much 'hush hush' when it comes to the number of cases or the individuals who've tested positive, however it's been suggested that as many as Twelve may be missing for Saturday's game.

Thankfully, our training centre was able to reopen earlier this week and the players who've recently tested negative trained for the first time in 13 days on Wednesday.

So, we're slowly getting there, but preparations for the game couldn't have been much worse, with the squad decimated and the first few training sessions back likely to have been pretty relaxed given some have only just recovered from COVID and others have been stuck at home following limited fitness plans.

LR: Well other than Aston Villa being postponed and a couple of players missing Crystal Palace, they have coped reasonably well with it.

I think every club will get a week or two when it hits hard, potentially over the festive period when games come thick and fast.

Hopefully Newcastle's problems with it are behind them now.

How will Steve Bruce approach this game having had such a long break?

NB: It's been an unprecedented period for the players, with pre-match preparations all over the place and the squad forced to train in small groups now they're finally back, so I imagine Bruce will just throw together whatever team he can and hope for the best!

Thankfully, it looks like Callum Wilson is one of the players who's covid-free and fit to start, so I'm sure he'll focus on getting good service to him. He's got seven goals already this season and will be licking his lips after seeing you concede five against a usually toothless Palace side last weekend!

LR: I think in some ways it may have helped a couple of injured players get closer to first-team contention.

Allan Saint-Maximin has had a rest and I think he will benefit from it.

Others like Andy Carroll, Matt Ritchie and Martin Dubravka are a week closer to starting games and haven't missed a game.

Who have been the stand-out performers for Newcastle so far this season?

NB: Callum Wilson has been absolutely lethal up top. It feels like he only ever needs one chance to score, his movement is great and he's a real handful too, making him seem a real bargain at £20m.

Karl Darlow has also been outstanding in Dubravka's absence. Before last weekend, he'd made more saves than any other Premier League goalkeeper - although I see West Brom's Sam Johnstone has overtaken him now!

He's a great shot stopper on his day and has been commanding his box well too.

Federico Fernandez is usually our most reliable centre-back and saved us on a few occasions in that win at Crystal Palace.

Allan Saint-Maximin is undoubtedly our most talented player when he wants to be, being an incredible dribbler with so much pace and flare, however he's looked off the pace and on the fringe of games too often this season.

If he's not one of our COVID casualties and is fit to play, we'll be hoping he can get back to his best.

LR: It's Karl Darlow by some stretch actually.

Were it not for him, Newcastle could be close to the bottom of the table, he's been that important.

Throw in Callum Wilson's goals and I think that is pretty much the story of the season so far.

The Wilson and Darlow show.

How do you expect Bruce to line-up against Albion?

NB: He ditched five at the back in our last game, reverting to more of a 4-4-2 that helped Wilson and Joelinton to link up well in attack.

Thankfully, Wilson's recent post on Instagram shows he trained this week and therefore should be OK to start, but we remain totally in the dark when it comes to everyone else's availability, with the club yet to release training photos.

With all of these COVID issues in mind, Bruce may be forced to name a few of our Under-23 players on the bench.

18-year-old attacking midfielder Elliot Anderson could be one to watch if he does after being named on the bench by right at Palace last time out.

The starting line up Bruce fields really is anyone's guess. Although that will also keep West Brom in the dark and wondering what they'll be coming up against, it's fair to say we'll be weakened and could well be forced to play a few squad players out of position!

LR: We're expecting to hear the full list of absentees today so we'll wait and see.

Are there any injury worries at St James' Park?

NB: Allan Saint-Maximin missed our win at Palace a fortnight ago with a new hamstring injury, so it remains to be seen if he's OK.

Elsewhere, Jamaal Lascelles, Ryan Fraser and Andy Carroll all missed our last game with knocks, while Martin Dubravka and Paul Dummett remain long-term absentees.

LR: Allan Saint-Maximin should be back from a calf injury and Matt Ritchie should be ready to start after a shoulder problem.

What have you made of Albion from afar, do you think they have what it takes to survive in the top flight this season?

NB: I always felt the spine of your side looked weak and was surprised you didn't sign a new centre-back over the summer, but did think the likes of Pereira, Diangana and Gallagher could cause real problems in attack.

Gallagher seems to be coming good for you, but with no proven goalscorer and Diangana misfiring so far, it doesn't look like you have enough firepower to me.

Your defence seems a real soft touch, so that combined with a midfield lacking steel and an attack devoid of cutting edge stinks of relegation to me. Sorry!

Who knows though. I've read Bilic could go if he loses this weekend, so perhaps a change of manager and a few much needed January signings could see your fortunes improve over the second half of the season.

LR: I think it's going to be tough for them if they don't start getting wins soon.

The bottom three seem to have really struggled this term and it is making a case for Newcastle to pull away from danger before Christmas which is unusual.

I don't think I expected them to be in this situation but looking at their summer business I didn't expect them to emulate Sheff United last season.

If you wanted to know how unforgiving the Prem is just look at the Blades.

Your match prediction?

NB: This is a tough one given I haven't a clue what sort of side Steve Bruce will be able to put out!

With Wilson appearing fit to play, I think we'll have enough in him to cause you problems in attack, but if our defence is make-shift and Bilic is fighting to save his job, I can see you coming away with a point.

I'll go for 1-1, but it's a game you'll be really hoping to win in the circumstances.

Good luck for the rest of the season!

LR: I think Newcastle win and take a 3-1 victory.

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