Newcastle vs Tottenham – Premier League: Eddie Howe forced into two changes from Fulham victory, as Spurs look to increase their grip on a top-four spot

Here come the teams

‘Hey Jude’ rings out around the ground – what a song – do you think it’s the most used song in football?

Anyway, the teams have arisen from the tunnel, and St James’ Park roars, I think we are in for a good atmosphere today.

This injury-ravaged Newcastle side are going to need it.

Eddie Howe: ‘Crowd will back us

Eddie Howe, Newcastle boss, speaking to TNT Sports:

We have picked a versatile team. When you play Tottenham they are tactically interesting, we have picked a versatile team that can match up to Tottenham very well.Spurs stick to what they do [well]. Their rotations are very good and regardless of the formation we have to be adaptable, then of course on the ball we have to do what we have to do.”You have to get them [supporters] into the game and have a good attitude, entertain them – the crowd will back us as they always do.

Goals incoming?

With these two sides, expect goals.

Tottenham are a goal-scoring machine, in particular, they found the net in 42 of their 43 matches this season.

They also love a goal at St James’ Park, Spurs have scored on each of their last 17 visits to the ground in all competitions since 2005.

I bet it will be 0-0 now I’ve mentioned this…

Will both sides get Europe?

I want to hear from you.

Do you think both sides will end up in the European spots they want by the end of the season?

I don’t think so, I think due to injuries Newcastle will miss out.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Ange Postecoglou: ‘It is going to be a high-energy game’

Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham boss, speaking to TNT Sports:

We’re in the best position we have been in, apart from the first ten games, in terms of a squad and being able to rotate players.Rodi [Rodrigo Bentancur] will be good today, he is getting back to his levels where he can break teams open with his running – we are going to need it.I’ve got a feeling we are going to need more than the guys who are starting today in midfield because it is going to be a high-energy game.

Final preparations for Spurs

I wonder what is going through their heads right now?

Probably, ‘don’t concede five goals in the first 21 minutes’.

I would love to be a fly-on-the-wall in their changing room in the moments before kick-off.

It’s a huge game for Spurs.

Clubs pay respects to Joe Kinnear

Darren Eales, Newcastle United CEO, and Daniel Levy, Tottenham Chairman, have paid their respects to former Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear, who passed away last week at the age of 77.

The pair laid flowers in the memorial garden at the stadium for Kinnear who was manager of the Magpies between 2008 and 2009, and Director of Football between 2013 and 2014.

One-off shirt for Newcastle

Craig Hope, Mail Sport, revealed exclusively in early April that Newcastle would be wearing a one-off shirt today with the sponsor of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People.

There will be additional tie-ins to RNID today as well.

Will Spurs secure a top-four finish?

Spurs have been extremely up and down this season, but there is no denying that they are a fantastic team.

Going into today Spurs sit in fourth level on points with Aston Villa, but with a better goal difference and a game in hand.

You feel they are now in pole position for a Champions League spot and a win today would do them a whole lot of good.

Even with a tough run-in, it’s theirs to lose.

‘Bench a concern for Newcastle’

Craig Hope, Mail Sport, at St James’ Park:

I said this before Everton last week, but the bench would be my concern from a Newcastle perspective. Games now are won and lost with 15/16 players, not 11. And Newcastle (again) have very little to turn to in reserve.

Atmosphere building

Newcastle fans are some of the best in the country.

I’m surprised that I’m yet to see a fan with their shirt off yet, it’s April, so there are bound to be a few.

You can feel the buzz around the ground already!

Isak to wreak more havoc on Spurs?

Alexander Isak, what a player.

In the 6-1 pasting Newcastle handed out to Spurs last year, Isak was the standout for me, netting two goals in two minutes.

The Swedish striker has already netted 15 goals this season in only 23 games, five more than he managed last campaign.

I said to my colleague that I believe he is the best signing in the Eddie Howe.

What do you guys think, is he?

Spurs Team News – Bentancur STARTS

Rodrigo Bentencur is back in the Tottenham starting line-up.

He is the only change to the side that beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 last week.

Is this 11 strong enough to pick up ll three points today?

Newcastle Team News – TWO changes

Eddie Howe makes just the two changes from the side that beat Fulham last week.

Elliott Anderson and Harvey Barnes come into the starting 11 for the injured Joe Willock and Lewis Hall – who is benched.

Tino Livramento is also a shock inclusion as he is fit enough to be named on the bench.

I must admit, that’s a fairly strong attack, despite the injuries.

Both teams are in the house!

This is when anticipation really starts to grow.

Both teams have now arrived at St James’ Park and we are just minutes away from the team news.

It will be interesting to see what Newcastle side starts today, it’s not like they have too many options to choose from.

Eddie Howe: ‘6-1 was a special game for us’

Eddie Howe, Newcastle boss, speaking on Friday:

That was a special game for us, everything clicked. We were devastating in attack, we were ruthless. One of those days you get rarely in football where everything went our way.This is a totally different Tottenham team now. I admire them tactically, and physically, I think Ange [Postecoglou] deserves big credit with how his philosophy has been implemented and with the speed it has.

A day Geordies will never forget

You didn’t have to wait long.

If you’re a Tottenham fan, you may want to scroll past this post, but you won’t want to if you’re anybody else.

In this very same fixture last season we saw the very best of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle and the very worst of managerless Tottenham.

The Magpies were relentless, shipping six past a hapless Spurs, with five of those goals coming in the first 21 minutes.

It was a match that showed the gulf in class between the two sides at the time and is one that will live long in the memory of both sets of fans.

Surely we won’t get a repeat of that today, will we?

Ange Postecoglou: ‘This year has been tough on Newcastle’

Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham boss, speaking on Friday:

Certainly, there is a cautionary tale there that getting into the Champions League also means greater demands.Demands on players, demands on the squad and you have to be geared up for it or else it can affect all parts of your season.It has been tough on Newcastle this year because the progress last year was fantastic, the reward for that was the Champions League and this year for whatever reason it has made it a really challenging season on all fronts for them.

A happy hunting ground for Spurs…usually

Tottenham love a trip to St James’ Park, most of the time.

The north London side have come out on top in six out of the last nine meetings between the two sides in the northeast.

However, those results probably aren’t in the mind of the current Tottenham squad, but one will be.

You know which one iI’m talking about, but you’ll have to wait a little longer for that post.

Not too long though…

Newcastle seek to shock Spurs

Would it be a shock if Newcastle were to win today? I think it would.

I say this just because of the Magpies’ injury problems, not because they aren’t good enough to do it.

In reality, if Tottenham want to leapfrog Villa into the top four by the end of the season, they have to win here today.

Spurs still have to play all of the top three sides, they have a really tough run-in, but they can’t waver their focus away from today.

It’s a huge game for both sides and could determine where they end up finishing this season.

You won’t be able to keep your eyes off this one.

The push for Europe continues!

Is football back already?

You’ve got to love the final run-in, the football is non-stop which is perfect for people like me who adore the sport.

If you’re the same, you’re going to love what the Premier League is serving up in the early kick-off as Tottenham travel to St James’s Park seeking revenge after last year’s horror show (I reckon the Newcastle fans will be smiling right around now).

With both teams gunning for Europe in their own way and in a stadium that is notorious for creating an intimidating atmosphere, I think this is going to be very enjoyable, don’t you?

Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, make sure you don’t miss this one, you’ll regret it otherwise.

Let’s get stuck in!