Southampton arrive on Tyneside bolstered by the collection of seven points in their past three games but Newcastle are buoyed by their haul of four from two tricky looking fixtures against Manchester City and Sheffield United. By making the most of sometimes startlingly low possession, Steve Bruce is not only beginning to win a few initially flinty hearts and minds at St James’ Park but seems to be bringing the best out of Jonjo Shelvey as he attempts to make the 3-4-3 template he inherited from Rafael Benítez a little more attacking while retaining its defensive meanness. Louise Taylor
Sunday 2pm
Venue St James’ Park
Last season Newcastle 3 Southampton 1
Referee David Coote
This season G5 Y18 R1 3.8 cards/game
Odds H 8-5 A 9-5 D 11-5
NEWCASTLE
Subs from Darlow, Krath, Yedlin, Ki, Gayle, Carroll, Muto, S Longstaff, M Longstaff, Atsu, Schär, Lejeune
Doubtful Lejeune (knee), Saint-Maximin (ankle), Schär (knee), Yedlin (hip)
Injured Lascelles (Knee, Jan), Ritchie (ankle, Jan)
Suspended None
Discipline Y22 R2
Form DWWLDW
Leading scorer Shelvey 4
SOUTHAMPTON
Subs from Gunn, Lewis, Soares, Yoshida, Adams, Boufal, Obafemi, Vokins, Slattery, Ramsay, Danso, Sims, McQueen, Armstrong, Valery
Doubtful Boufal (ankle)
Injured Armstrong (calf, 14 Dec)
Suspended None
Discipline Y18 R2
Form LLLDWW
Leading scorer Ings 8
