Newcastle United are preparing to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, aiming to secure their first victory at this venue since 2012. According to coverage by our news portal, this fixture presents a significant psychological hurdle for the Magpies, as emphasized by their manager Eddie Howe. Following a hard-fought 2-2 draw earlier in December, Howe has stressed the necessity for unwavering concentration in order to overcome this challenge.
Injury Woes and Squad Updates Ahead of the Clash
The team will be without several key players due to injury setbacks. Bruno Guimarães is sidelined with a hamstring problem, while Fabian Schär, Emil Krafth, and Lewis Miley are also unavailable for selection. Nonetheless, there is a silver lining with the return of Joelinton, who is set to bolster the squad. Additionally, Anthony Gordon, having recently recovered from illness, appears to be performing at the peak of his season so far.
Howe has also lauded the team’s resilience demonstrated in their recent encounter against Barcelona, which ended in a commendable 1-1 draw. This performance, he suggests, is indicative of the squad’s potential to rise to demanding occasions.
The upcoming match is scheduled for a 17:30 GMT kick-off and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Premier League, ensuring fans can witness this pivotal encounter firsthand.
Reflecting on past transfers, former Newcastle striker Les Ferdinand has candidly admitted that his move from Newcastle to Tottenham Hotspur in 1997 was a misstep, attributing this to the unprofessional environment and injury troubles he encountered, which ultimately affected his goal-scoring output.