5:13PM
Eddie Howe on his selection
Joelinton aggravated a knee problem in his second game for Brazil which is a huge blow for us and I think he’ll be out for a couple of weeks. Apart from that we’re OK.
4:45PM
So, five changes for Newcastle
Seems a little drastic, though Sandro Tonali did report a thigh strain on international duty. He starts on the bench along with Almiron, Targett and Isak who were in the starting XI at the Amex. Joelinton misses out altogether. In come Botman, Longstaff, Anderson, Wilson and Barnes. Tonali, Joelinton, Almiron and Isak were all away on international duty. Longstaff, Anderson (who withdrew), Botman and Barnes were not.
4:40PM
And now for those of you watching in black and white
**Newcastle **Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, Anderson; Barnes, Wilson, Gordon.
_ **Substitutes **Dubravka, Lascelles, Tonali, Targett, Isak, Hall, Livramento, Murphy, Almiron._
Brentford Flekken; Hickey, Pinnock, Mee, Collins, Henry; Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt; Mbeumo, Wissa.
_ Substitutes Strakosha, Maupay, Schade, Jorgensen, Ghoddos, Onyeka, Lewis-Potter, Roerslev, Yarmolyuk._
Referee Craig Pawson (Sheffield)
4:33PM
Brentford switch to three/five at the back
4:32PM
Botman is back, Isak and Tonali on the bench
4:12PM
Preview: Howe’s ceiling
Good afternoon and welcome to live coverage of the Saturday evening Premier League game between Newcastle United, who started Saturday in 14th place after three successive defeats, and ninth-placed Brentford who are unbeaten with one victory and three draws from their opening four fixtures. Newcastle did the double over the Bees last season, winning 5-1 at home when they were at their fluent best but, more impressively still, 2-1 away where few teams come away with a point, let alone a win.
And yet those three defeats on the spin – by Man City, Liverpool and Brighton – have persuaded many analysts to write well-sourced pieces hinting that Howe is in some jeopardy. It can be difficult reading the runes at St James’ Park but while there should be legitimate concerns because of his lack of experience and hence elite achievement over whether Howe can make Newcastle champions of England and ultimately Europe, it seems to me that he has shown himself perfectly capable of moving this side forward incrementally. In other words there is always a ceiling but this is not it. It seems weird that they did not buy another centre-back but there’s nothing much wrong with the team that Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton rescaling last season’s lofty peaks cannot solve.
As for Brentford, who continue to punch above their weight by virtue of arguably the second most astute recruitment ream in the league and Tomas Frank’s scarily underrated management, are transitioning smoothly towards their inevitable post-Ivan Toney future. Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa and Kevin Schade have the high pace and perceptive, patterned movement to trouble most defences and the return of Neal Maupay to his happiest hunting ground offers them an intriguing alternative when they need heft as well as his speed. Newcastle’s back four, especially if Sven Botman does not pass a late fitness test, will have their hands full – as will Miguel Almirón with Rico Henry who, if there’s any justice, must be on the verge of international recognition
