Newcastle United vs. Brighton: Four players to watch

Newcastle United will host Brighton at St. James’ Park on Saturday and there are four key players to keep an eye on this weekend.

Everyone on Tyneside is expecting Newcastle United to claim their first victory of the season against Brighton this weekend. Brighton deserve respect as a team, but Newcastle will desperately look to earn points against mediocre opponents participating in a relegation battle this season.

Newcastle only have two points from a possible 24 and they cannot afford to drop points at home against Brighton if they aim to establish a positive run of form to avoid relegation. Success for the Magpies comes as a result of collective understanding and effort, but here are some key players who can influence the outcome of the match on Saturday.

Newcastle: Yoshinori Muto

All eyes will be on Yoshinori Muto on Saturday to see if he can develop some consistency by scoring for Newcastle in two straight matches. Muto looked like a quality striker against Manchester United and his goal at Old Trafford could serve as a major confidence-builder. If Newcastle want to start winning games, they have to start scoring more goals and Muto could have a big game against a Brighton defense that has conceded 13 goals this season.

Brighton: Glenn Murray

At 35-years-old, Glenn Murray is living proof that age is just a number. Murray is the second highest scorer in the Premier League with five goals in eight matches this season. Brighton’s primary striker is getting the job done, especially against other mid-table sides. Newcastle must mark Murray closely in the penalty area because he only needs one small opening to cause a major problem for the Magpies.

Newcastle: DeAndre Yedlin

DeAndre Yedlin must perform at an elite level for Newcastle when they play Brighton. The American international can utilize his unmatched speed to close passing lanes and to build dangerous counter-attacks down the wing. Brighton possess plenty of pace down the flanks and Yedlin will have to stand his ground to prevent quick crosses into the box. Yedlin is gradually becoming a well-known player in the Premier League and he will showcase his quality on Saturday.

Brighton: Shane Duffy

Newcastle will find ways to create scoring chances against Brighton’s mediocre defense, however, if there is one player who can disrupt meaningful attacks it is Shane Duffy. The Irish international defender has been solid for Brighton this season. He is an active defender who puts in extra effort to intercept passes and win 50/50 duels in critical areas. Duffy is not afraid to get forward and he has shown this by scoring two goals for Brighton this season.