Newcastle United host Chelsea on Sunday in a pivotal clash in the race for Champions League qualification, with both sides locked on 63 points and only three games remaining in the Premier League season.
Eddie Howe’s team, currently fourth, aim to bounce back from a 1-1 draw at Brighton, while Enzo Maresca’s resurgent Chelsea side enter the fixture on a three-match winning streak.
The Magpies have won five straight home games in the league, scoring at least three goals in four of them, and have beaten Chelsea in all three of Howe’s home encounters at the helm.
Meanwhile, Alexander Isak has scored in each of his last four appearances against the Blues and enters the weekend with 23 league goals, including 12 at home.
However, Newcastle’s injury list remains significant and seemingly growing bigger by the day. Jamaal Lascelles, Lewis Hall, Matt Targett, and Joelinton are all unavailable, while Fabian Schar is doubtful. Sven Botman may return to the XI to partner Dan Burn if Schar is ruled out.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have re-entered the top-four picture thanks to recent wins over Leicester, Southampton, Spurs, and most recently Liverpool. Cole Palmer ended a 12-match scoring drought against the Reds and looks to add to his 15-goal tally. Maresca could name an unchanged side for the third league match in a row.
Here are some of Howe’s Wisdom Nuggets, courtesy of [_**NUFC.co.uk**_](http://NUFC.co.uk)
_**On home advantage, with two of the Magpies’ final three fixtures taking place at St. James’ Park:**_
“I think our home form has been good throughout the season. We have a great environment to play in and I’m sure it will be a great atmosphere on Sunday.
“We need the crowd with us. It is imperative in these last two (home) games that they are there and we know they will be there for us, and we have to perform. We have to be ready. Sometimes, with the early kick-offs, it can surprise you.
“You can wake up and it’s very unusual for the players so they have to adapt and the crowd have to adapt to be ready for the kick-off and be in full voice.”
_**On the importance of Sunday’s clash against the Blues:**_
“Every game we have between now and the end of the season becomes our biggest game of the season. We know the importance of where we finish in the Premier League.
“We’re doing everything we can to finish as high as we can and there’s a possibility it can go to the last game. All we can do is take care of our next opponent and try to give everything we can to win.”
_**On last weekend’s draw against Brighton & Hove Albion:**_
“When you score so late in the game, it has to be a positive for us. We were chasing a winner and, on reflection, I thought we were pretty good in the game.
“Our crossing quality was off, which was unlike us, and the last pass was maybe missing but a lot of control and a lot of good things to take from the game.”
_**On Dan Burn, who celebrates his 33rd birthday today:**_
“Dan’s season will be up there. If you had written a dream season, it would have been very close to being that for him.
“The goal in the (Carabao) cup final was the best header I have ever seen him deliver and it was a great moment then, very quickly, he had the England call-up and debut. That doesn’t happen everyday in a football career so very special moments for him but fully deserved.
“He continues to be a standard bearer for us in terms of everything he epitomises. He drives us forward and the beauty of Dan is he’s not settled with that. He’s now moving forward.”
_**On Anthony Gordon, who is targeting a first Premier League start since February:**_
“He’s pushing. This is his best week physically. He had an issue he picked up with England and it’s taken him a while to get back to full fitness.
“He did well when he came on against Brighton and he adds a different dimension to our game, directness and running.”
_**On Chelsea, who reached the Conference League final last night:**_
“We expect them to revert to near their last Premier League side, which was an impressive game against Liverpool, and they performed very well and they have a lot of attacking players back in form so it should be a good game.
“We have played Chelsea twice this season so we know their qualities. I think the game at Stamford Bridge was one of our hardest games of the season.
“Their tie last night was almost done. They have a really deep squad with a lot of quality players but I think they’ve found a consistency in their Premier League selection, recently, where they haven’t changed too much and they’ve been successful with that philosophy.”
_**Howay!**_
* **Date**: Sunday, May 11th
* **Kick-off**: 14:00 BST / 9:00 EST
* **Location**: St. James’ Park, Newcastle (England)
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