The Magpies beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on Tuesday night to claim only their third domestic away victory of the campaign.
The result saw Eddie Howe and his players bounce back from the 3-2 defeat at home to Brentford three days earlier, a game in which they were booed off.
But it wasn’t all positive. Bruno Guimaraes limped off in stoppage time with a hamstring injury and is a major doubt, not just for the visit to Villa Park but for games that follow in the coming weeks.
“With Bruno, we're awaiting the full extent of the hamstring injury,” Howe said at his pre-match press conference. “Bruno, the other night, I don't think he got the injury when he got the injury. I don't think there was any pre-injury.
“Obviously, at that stage of the game, he was getting fatigued. Maybe on a normal situation with a full bench, we would maybe have taken him off before that moment - but we didn't. We ran out of midfielders. So he stayed on the pitch and unfortunately got injured.”
Newcastle remain without Lewis Miley and Joelinton, leaving them with just three fully fit midfielders in Sandro Tonali, Joe Willock and Jacob Ramsey, who returns to his former club for the first time since joining for an initial £39million last summer.
Howe’s side drew 0-0 at Villa Park on the opening day of the Premier League season before losing the home tie 2-0 just a couple of weeks ago.
Here’s how Newcastle United are predicted to line-up against Aston Villa:
Ramsdale has started all-but one of Newcastle’s domestic cup matches this campaign and was the hero in the penalty shootout win v Bournemouth in the last round.
1. GK: Aaron Ramsdale (in for Nick Pope)
Ramsdale has started all-but one of Newcastle’s domestic cup matches this campaign and was the hero in the penalty shootout win v Bournemouth in the last round. | Getty Images
Trippier is currently the only senior right-back option available with Tino Livramento, Lewis Miley and Emil Krafth out injured.
2. RWB: Kieran Trippier
Trippier is currently the only senior right-back option available with Tino Livramento, Lewis Miley and Emil Krafth out injured. | Getty Images
Looked back to his best against Tottenham on Tuesday after some iffy performances in recent weeks.
3. CB: Malick Thiaw
Looked back to his best against Tottenham on Tuesday after some iffy performances in recent weeks. | Getty Images
The Dutchman is beginning to look every bit like the player that enjoyed an outstanding debut season in 2022-23.
4. CB: Sven Botman
The Dutchman is beginning to look every bit like the player that enjoyed an outstanding debut season in 2022-23. | AFP via Getty Images