Newcastle United head to the French capital to take on Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night’s must-win Champions League showdown.
The stakes are as high as ever for the Magpies, who need to come away with all three points to guarantee their place in the knockout phase without going through the play-offs.
Newcastle head into this fixture sitting seventh in the league phase ranking, level on 13 points and goal difference with tonight’s hosts.
The Magpies are bidding to feature in the Champions League knockout stage for the first time in their history. However, results have not always gone their way in recent weeks.
They have won just one of their last four (D1, L2) matches across all tournaments and failed to score in three of those games. The Magpies have also struggled away from home.
Their only win in the last five away matches came in the Premier League, a thumping 3-1 victory over relegation-threatened Burnley in late December.
Newcastle’s task against PSG is further complicated by the fact that they’ve never beaten a Ligue 1 team on French soil in the Champions League.
How Newcastle could line up
Howe could make at least three changes from the side that lost to Aston Villa over the weekend.
Nick Pope should keep his spot in goal, but there could be a minor tweak to the backline with Dan Burn coming in for Malick Thiaw.
The Englishman will likely partner Sven Botman in the heart of the defence while Kieran Trippier and Lewis Hall line up on the flanks.
Joelinto has been ruled out for a few weeks with a groin injury. But Guimaraes, who has been struggling with a knock, could return alongside Sandro Tonali and Lewis Miley.
Harvey Barnes struggled against Villa. Anthony Elanga will likely be given the nod alongside Yoane Wissa and Anthony Gordon.
Predicted Newcastle starting XI
(4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Burn, Botman, Hall; Miley, Tonali, Guimaraes; Elanga, Wissa, Gordon.
