· December 26 2024, 13:55
**Newcastle United host Aston Villa at St James' Park for the Boxing Day Premier League fixture.**
The Magpies have a solid record against Aston Villa at home which they'll be hoping to continue this afternoon.
Newcastle will have to do it without Tino Livramento, however, who is absent from the match day squad, replaced by Kieran Trippier for this one.
Other than that, it's pretty much as expected with Joelinton returning to the starting XI at the expense of Joe Willock.
We were close but the last-minute omission of Tino Livramento threw us
Two changes for Eddie Howe as Kieran Trippier and Joelinton come into the starting XI
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It's reportedly an illness which is keeping Tino Livramento out of today's game so nothing we should be overly worried about going forward.
Thankfully it has come at a time when Kieran Trippier is fit to play so there shouldn't be any real disruption to how the side is playing.
Joelinton coming back in after serving a one-game suspension is a welcome change as Joe Willock had very little impact last week.
Morgan Rogers and Jhon Duran start for Aston Villa
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Aston Villa are in good form lately and will be high in confidence coming to St James' Park despite it not being a happy hunting ground for them of late.
Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers start for the Villans and they are both massive danger men for Unai Emery and we'll definitely have to be on our toes to keep them at bay.
We always like to get one over on Count Dracula after he turned us down before Eddie Howe was appointed, so a win here would certainly make it a merry Christmas indeed.