· December 20 2024, 10:30
Newcastle United return to action on Saturday afternoon down at Portman Road where they will take on Ipswich Town in an old-school 3pm kick-off.
The Magpies have two convincing wins in the bag already this week and will be aiming to add a third on Saturday to get their season back on track.
This was touted as being a big week for Newcastle with three winnable games in a seven day period. And as Chris Sutton will go on to say in his prediction, the table is tight and that a couple of wins could make a huge difference.
Newcastle seem to be getting their home form sorted, now we just need to see if we can take that show on the road.
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More scenes like this on Saturday, please
Chris Sutton backs Newcastle to start climbing the league
It seems that Chris Sutton has once again been copying Paul Merson's homework as he's gone with the same scoreline again, but at least Sutton isn't trying to unsettle Alexander Isak in his column for the BBC.
"Maybe I should mention Mr Fields - an Ipswich fan who teaches my daughter - every week so the Tractor Boys stand a better chance of winning?
"It worked for them last week, when they beat Wolves, but I am not sure it will have the same effect this time.
"The strength of the Premier League means the table is so congested at the moment, with only six points separating Nottingham Forest in fourth, and Manchester United in 13th.
"Newcastle are 12th and have been very average at times, but they strike me as being a team who are in a false position, compared to what they are capable of.
"The busy Christmas period could change the look of the table dramatically, and a couple of wins could catapult someone towards the top four.
"Could that team be Newcastle? Yes, if they click, and I definitely fancy them here. Ipswich have not won at home yet this season and I don't see that changing this weekend.
"Sutton's prediction: 1-2"
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Newcastle are expected to edge it over Ipswich on Saturday
It seems that we're not expected to run away with this one, and if that's the case then so be it. The win is the important thing here.
We don't want to be heading into the Boxing Day clash with Aston Villa off the back of a poor result.
Newcastle will have to do the job without Joelinton on Saturday but we have a couple of good options to fill the void and we should be fine.