Buoyant Forest host a depleted Newcastle side as Eddie Howe chases a record-breaking victory amidst a defensive injury crisis and a grueling schedule for the home side.
Newcastle United head into this weekend’s fixture against Forest off the back of a much needed win against Brighton following five consecutive defeats and two consecutive home defeats. Forest are welcoming Newcastle to The City Ground off the back of a comprehensive defeat at Villa Park too deny them a place in the UEFA Europa League Final. But on a high in the league after four wins from the last five games, including away wins at Chelsea and Sunderland.
Newcastle will be without Lewis Miley who suffered a fractured fibula after slipping in training, he has had surgery on it and is expected to be out until pre season. Newcastle will also be without long terms absentees Tino Livramento, Fabian Schär & Emil Krafth. Leaving Kieran Tripper as the sole fit Right Back
Nottingham Forest will be without Callum Hudson-Odoi, Murillo, Dan Ndoye, Ibrahim Sangare, Ola Aina and Morgan Gibbs-White who all miss out.
Newcastle’s last six Premier League results
W - Brighton (H) - 3-1 - 2nd May
L - Arsenal (a) - 1-0 - 25th April
L - Bournemouth (H) - 1-2 - 18th April
L - Crystal Palace (a) - 2-1 - 12th April
L - Sunderland (H) - 1-2 - 22nd March
W - Chelsea (a) - 0-1 - 14th March
Nottingham Forest’s last six Premier League results
W - Chelsea (a) - 1-3 - 4th May
W - Sunderland (a) - 0-5 - 24th April
W - Burnley (H) - 4-1 - 19th April
D - Aston Villa (H) - 1-1 - 12th April
W - Tottenham (a) - 0-3 - 22nd March
D - Fulham (H) - 0-0 - 15th March
Referee
Paul Tierney - The man who was at the centre of the Centre Circle Huddle farce at Stamford Bridge. This will be his second game of the season involving Newcastle, with his only other outing being the 1-0 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
Stats
Newcastle are unbeaten in their last 4 visits to the City Ground in both the league and cup, drawing 1 (won on pens) and winning the other 3. Newcastle’s last defeat in the league at Nottingham Forest came in the 2016/17 Championship campaign. Victory for Newcastle would be Eddie Howe's 84th, as Magpies boss, which would be one more than Sir Bobby Robson and Kevin Keegan and make him United's most successful PL boss, in terms of games won.