Newcastle United faces Brighton & Hove Albion at St James' Park this Saturday, seeking to end a five-match losing streak. Brighton, in contrast, is on a strong run and aims for European qualification.
Key points
Newcastle United hosts Brighton at St James' Park.
Newcastle has lost five matches in a row.
Brighton is in contention for European qualification.
Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton are expected to play.
Newcastle is eight points above the relegation zone.
Mentioned in this story
Eddie HoweBruno GuimaraesJoelintonAnthony Gordon
Newcastle UnitedBrighton & Hove AlbionPremier League
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - APRIL 23: Newcastle United Head Coach Eddie Howe gives instructions during the Newcastle United Training Session at the Newcastle United Training Centre on April 23, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - APRIL 23: Newcastle United Head Coach Eddie Howe gives instructions during the Newcastle United Training Session at the Newcastle United Training Centre on April 23, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Newcastle United host Brighton & Hove Albion at St Jamesâ Park on Saturday in their Premier League MD35 fixture.
Eddie Howeâs side enters the match following a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal, extending their losing run to five matches across all competitions and four in the league alone.
Newcastle remain 14th in the table, eight points above the relegation zone with four games to go and still not having secured their EPL safetyâbelieve that.
The defeat at the Emirates last weekend also ended an 18-game scoring run in all competitions, which couldnât have come at a worse time, considering the Gunners just put one ball inside the Magpiesâ net. Yikes!
Brighton, meanwhile, arrive following a 3-0 win over Chelsea, extending their strong run to 13 points from their last five league games. They sit sixth in the table and remain in contention for European qualification.
This weekendâs visitors have taken 10 points from their last four away matches, keeping three clean sheets in that period, and are unbeaten in their last six meetings with Newcastle. Tough matchup ahead, by the looks of it.
Bruno Guimaraes returned to action last weekend and is expected to feature again, while Joelinton is also available following suspension, and thus expected to make the XI. could return from a groin issue and depending on whether or not Howe decides to play a natural striker or not, Gordon should either man the left wing or that makeshift-striker role heâs been so accustomed to be deployed in.
Fabian , , and remain unavailable, while itâs also unclear whether or will start in net.
Here are some of Howeâs Wisdom Nuggets, courtesy ofÂ
***On GordonâŠ***âHe did part of a session on Wednesday. It was great to see him back on the pitch. Heâs a player of huge quality and one that weâve missed.
âWeâll make an assessment on his fitness closer to the game and see what he gets through today.â
***On Saturdayâs gameâŠ***âWe need to keep the level of performance where it was against Arsenal. The team looked good, it looked confident, it defended well. I think it was a big upturn.
âWe need to back that up at home, our home form has not been strong enough. A lot riding on this weekend for us.â
***On Yoane WissaâŠ***âYoaneâs only issue has been the injury he suffered [in September]. When he returned, he wasnât physically able to deliver the quality of performance he traditionally has done in the Premier League.
âThereâs no doubting the quality of the player but can we get him in a physical condition to deliver his best performances before the end of the season â thatâs been the challenge.
âSince weâve returned to full team training I think weâve seen a big lift in his performances because trying to get him fit with small numbers in training sessions is tough. As long as he continues to show that upward trajectory I think weâll see the very best of him in the future.â
***On Nick Woltemade, who scored in Octoberâs reverse fixture against BrightonâŠ***âHeâs training well. I think again heâs benefiting from the bigger sessions with 20 players that weâve missed throughout the season and now weâre beginning to work with him on the things we feel like we needed to earlier in the season but didnât have the opportunity to.
âI thought his pass for Yoane was sublime against Arsenal. It was great to see those two link together and looked like it could be a potential partnership for us.â
***On Lewis HallâŠ***âI made the decision, last week, to change the backline in respect that we hadnât kept enough clean sheets and I felt we needed to change something.
âWe changed our goalkeeper, Lewisâ position and I thought it had a positive response to the look of the team. Thatâs no reflection on Lewis â thatâs on what the team delivered in that game.
âThereâs pros and cons to every decision that you make but we needed the height from set-plays in that particular game. It was a collective thought around that decision.
âEvery player has to fight for his place and, when you play, you have to do enough to stay in.â
***On Joelinton returning from suspensionâŠ***âJoeyâs a massive part of what we do. Heâs got that will to win and that determination to fight for everything. Every loose ball, every duel. Heâs there from the beginning of the game till the end.
âHeâs got that mentality that we need more of. Heâs the one setting the standards so, when heâs not playing, I think we miss something, his unique qualities, and itâll be great to have him back available.â
***On facing Brighton, unbeaten in their last five meetings with the MagpiesâŠ***âWeâve had some tough defeats against them recently. I think theyâve all been pretty tight games but theyâve fallen the wrong way for us.
âYou can look back at the games from a tactical viewpoint in terms of feeling, we need to use those past disappointments to spur us into games.â
***Howay!***
Q&A
What is the current form of Newcastle United ahead of the match against Brighton?
Newcastle United has lost five consecutive matches, including four in the Premier League, and sits 14th in the table.
How is Brighton performing before their game against Newcastle?
Brighton is in good form, having won three matches in a row and secured 13 points from their last five league games.
Which key players are available for Newcastle in the upcoming match?
Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton are expected to feature, while Anthony Gordon's availability depends on his fitness after a groin issue.
What are the stakes for Newcastle in the match against Brighton?
Newcastle needs to secure points to avoid relegation, as they are only eight points above the relegation zone with four games remaining.
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