Eddie Howe's side have a point to prove against Pep Guardiola's Man City in Saturday's Premier League clash
Newcastle United have been impressive at St James' Park this season
Newcastle United have been impressive at St James' Park this season
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Newcastle United will put their away woes behind them to give high-flying Manchester City the toughest of tests on Saturday evening, according to former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder Don Hutchison.
And although the Gateshead-born star stopped short of predicting a win for Eddie Howe's men, he revealed he is 'never afraid' when the Magpies are on home soil.
United's away form has been the issue so far this season, although Howe is expecting a reaction from his players this weekend, after losing to West Ham and Brentford before the internatonal break.
While Newcastle have lost three times at St James' Park this term, they have all come in narrow one-goal defeats to European heavyweights Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona - and United will feel they should have taken something from each of those games.
Both Premier League setbacks came after late goals for the visitors, while on another day, United would have led Barca before Marcus Rashford's brace put the Catalan side in control during the Champions League encounter.
City will again be a tough test, with Erling Haaland firing on all cylinders, but Hutchison expects a strong response from Newcastle in front of their home fans.
"It’s at home. I'm so confident when Newcastle play anyone at home, because they are a completely different animal when they're at home," Hutchison told www.sportscasting.com. "The fans drive them on.
"It's a mental thing where they have to be on the front foot, they have to be aggressive. They get results.
"I'm never afraid of Newcastle when they play at home. All right, they might lose a game like the Arsenal game but they did really well in that.
"They'll give Man City a game. I was up there when they beat them in the cup. They'll give City a game. As to whether they can get a win, that’s another story.
"But the away form is horrendous and it's a mentality thing. They try to play a different style of football and they've got to find it. But at home, why not? They can beat anyone."
Howe will give Anthony Gordon as much time as possible to prove his fitness following a hip injury, while Nick Pope and Joelinton have recovered from knocks which saw them come off at Brentford.
Yoane Wissa and Will Osula are again missing, along with the suspended Dan Burn, with Lewis Hall ready to make only his second Premier League start of the season at left-back.
Man City are without Rodri and Mateo Kovavic in midfield, but otherwise Pep Guardiola has a full squad to pick from.
If Erling Haaland scores this weekend, it will be his 100th Premier League goal of his career - the fastest that has ever been achieved.