Newcastle’s very own divine ponytail is set to make his second debut for the club. Given that Andy Carroll is still short of fitness following his long awaited recovery from ankle surgery that bow is likely to come from the bench but Steve Bruce still hopes the one time England centre forward’s very presence inside St James’ Park will “give the whole ground a lift”. It is early in the season for relegation six pointers but both Bruce and Brighton’s Graham Potter could definitely do with three. Louise Taylor
Saturday 5.30pm Sky Sports Premier League
Venue St James’ Park
Last season Newcastle 0 Brighton 1
Referee Martin Atkinson
This season G5 Y19 R0 3.8 cards/game
Odds H 17-11 A 2-1 D 2-1
NEWCASTLE
Subs from Darlow, Yedlin, Manquillo, Fernández, Clark, Ki, Muto, M Longstaff, Carroll, Saint-Maximin
Doubtful None
Injured Ritchie (ankle, Oct), S Longstaff (ankle), Gayle (calf), Lejeuene (knee, all unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y8 R0
Form LLWDL
Leading scorers Joelinton, Schär, Shelvey, Willems 1
BRIGHTON
Subs from Button, Steele, Bong, Duffy, Mooy, Connolly, Richards, Bernardo, Montoya
Doubtful Bernardo (back), Montoya (ill)
Injured Schelotto (knee, 25 Sep), Trossard (groin, Oct), Balogun (match fitness), Jahanbakhsh (knock), Izquierdo (knee, all unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y3 R1
Form WDLLD
Leading scorer Maupay 2
