Unai Emery on rotating his Villa squad
The rotation is coming when the players are ready to play in our demands. This is the only difference. We made some changes on Wednesday after the match we played on Saturday.
Some players may be tired, some can feel some pain, not injuries but maybe pain. We need players to be 100%, not 80%.
Matthias JaissleâÂÂs pre-match thoughts
The lads know they need to show a reaction, we need to show a reaction as a team and IâÂÂm optimistic we can do that at home. We are aware of what we are facing but at home, with our crowd at our backs, we can hurt every opponent.
[On Sean Steur] HeâÂÂs knocking on the door due to his quality, heâÂÂs shown that in training sessions. This is a player who I believe will give us so much joy and fun in the future. But he needs time. HeâÂÂs had ups and downs already this season. He should continue developing.
Joelinton replaces Jacob Murphy in the Newcastle team, the only change from their 4-1 defeat at Coventry on Monday. ItâÂÂs his first start under Matthias Jaissle â he suffered a hamstring injury during pre-season.
Unai Emery continues to rotate his Villa squad. In come Joao Gomes, Emi Buendia, Tyrone Mings and Alysson. Out go Ross Barkley (who scored twice against Fenerbahce in the week), John McGinn, Pau Torres and Ibrahim Mbaye.
Newcastle (4-2-3-1) Hornicek; Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Gonzalez, Willock; Joelinton, Wissa, Barnes; Fernandez-Pardo.
Subs: Pope, Schar, Bamba, Osula, Steur, Toure, Murphy, Burn, Dedic.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1) Suzuki; Cash, Lindelof, Mings, Wan-Bissaka; Kamara, Joao Gomes; Alysson, Buendia, Manzambi; Jackson.
Subs: Harwood-Bellis, Barkley, McGinn, Pau Torres, Mbaye, Bogarde, Goretzka, Madjo, Bizot.
Referee Jarred Gillett.
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NewcastleâÂÂs latest attempt to play vertical football left Matthias JaissleâÂÂs side horizontal at Coventry on Monday night. That 4-1 defeat has prompted quite an inquest on Tyneside, where Jaissle could do without his players falling flat on their faces once more when Aston Villa visit St Jamesâ Park. Jaissle maintains that his vertical football is the brand of high-octane, aggressive attacking that NewcastleâÂÂs hierarchy believes should become the clubâÂÂs default, and is the way fans want to see the team play.
That argument is not without validity but it is also worth remembering that, less than a decade ago, under Rafael BenÃÂtezâÂÂs charge, Newcastle often played a low block bolstered by three at the back, rarely took unnecessary risks and improved steadily. Admittedly resources were thinner then but the fans almost universally adored BenÃÂtez and were heartbroken when he eventually tired of Mike AshleyâÂÂs ownership and resigned.
Quite apart from making his dislike for chaotic football plain, the Spaniard was a realist who knew a gung-ho approach would spell relegation. Granted, tactical fashions have changed, but Jaissle could do worse than slow things down a bit and search for his inner Rafa against Villa.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Newcastle v Aston Villa at St Jamesâ Park. Both aspire to Champions League football â Villa are in it this this season â so itâÂÂs slightly incongruous to see them both in the bottom half of the table.
Newcastle have had a mixed start under Matthias Jaissle and were plugged 4-1 at Coventry on Monday. After a miserable, goalless beginning to the season, a hastily rebuilt Villa have started to stir and thrashed Fenerbahce 6-0 in midweek.
WeâÂÂre less than a sixth of the way through the Premier League season, so thereâÂÂs plenty of time for Newcastle and Villa to progress towards the mean. A win tonight would be a good place to start.
Kick off 5.30pm.