Newcastle United team news v Manchester City: Sven Botman has been ruled out for a third match due to injury.
Newcastle United are without Sven Botman once again as they prepare to face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
The Magpies have travelled to the match on the back of a 6-1 Champions League win against Qarabag in Azerbaijan on Wednesday evening.
Botman missed the Qarabag match due to a back injury that had also kept him out against Aston Villa last weekend in the FA Cup.
Ahead of the trip to Man City, Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe teased a potential return for the Dutch defender.
“Hopefully, good news or better news on Sven Botman,” Howe said. “He could be in and around this game.”
But the match has come too soon for the 26-year-old as he is one of seven absentees. Yoane Wissa, Lewis Miley, Bruno Guimaraes, Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar and Emil Krafth also miss out.
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Newcastle United confirmed team news v Manchester City
Howe has made one change from the side that won in Baku with Harvey Barnes dropping to the bench in place of Jacob Ramsey.
NUFC XI v Manchester City: Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Ramsey, Woltemade; Elanga, Willock, Gordon
Subs: Ruddy, Ramsdale, Joelinton, Barnes, Osula, J.Murphy, A.Murphy, Shahar, Neave
Eddie Howe on Manchester City
Eddie Howe’s side face Man City for the fourth time already this season. Despite winning the reverse fixture in the Premier League 2-1 at St James’ Park back in November, Newcastle were beaten in both legs in the Carabao Cup semi-final against City.
In addition to not winning a Premier League match without Guimaraes since the Brazilian joined the club, Newcastle have never won a Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium or even scored a goal in the league since Howe’s arrival as head coach.
Reflecting on past results against City, Howe said: “Genuinely, I think we learned something. Not so much about them, but more about ourselves and our game going forward every time we play them.
“I think they have been the benchmark for a number of years in the Premier League in terms of teams that play at the very highest level consistently. So, yes, with each painful defeat that we've suffered, especially at the Etihad, I think you grow from it, and that's what we try to do.
“So then when we play other teams, we've tried to evolve and improve. A big mark to their consistency level, season upon season. I think they've been very, very good, led by an outstanding manager [Pep Guardiola].
“They continue to be the benchmark, in my opinion. I think for us, every time we've played there, we've made too many mistakes. Not massive ones, I don't think you have to make massive ones there to lose the game, but big enough mistakes to cost us the game.
“I think we've been in the games. I think they're always competitive, but they've been too good for us on a number of occasions, and that's the gap we've got to try and bridge this weekend.”
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