Newcastle United will host Watford at St. James’ Park on Saturday and the Magpies are desperate for three points.
After earning a point on the road against Southampton last weekend, Newcastle United are set to play in front of their home supporters on Saturday when they host Watford at St. James’ Park. Frustration and desperation are two words that best describe the current situation on Tyneside as Newcastle enter November with a winless performance record of 0-3-7.
Watford will be a difficult opponent for Newcastle and the odds of the Magpies claiming a victory over the Hornets are slim. Some players in key positions need to step up their game if Newcastle truly aim to win this match and end their poor run of form. Here are four players to keep a close eye on this weekend.
Newcastle: Kenedy
After a poor start to the season, Kenedy has started to turn things around after the 2-0 defeat to Leicester City. The Brazilian winger scored an impressive goal against Manchester United and he played well against Brighton and Southampton. The energy and involvement is always there from Kenedy, but now the 22-year-old midfielder will look to showcase his scoring abilities. He has the skills to cut inside and create scoring opportunities, and he will certainly look to strike from distance on Saturday.
Watford: Roberto Pereyra
Roberto Pereyra is on fire for Watford with five goals in ten matches this season. The former Juventus midfielder is a dynamic player who can create scoring chances for himself with minimal support and he is clinical in front of goal with both feet. Pereyra will be hard to contain as he always finds ways to get involved in the action. Jamaal Lascelles and company must be cautious of where Pereyra is on the field at all times or else the Argentine international could add to his scoring tally on Saturday.
Newcastle: Yoshinori Muto
Although Salomon Rondon has recovered from his thigh injury, Rafa Benitez will most likely give the nod to Yoshinori Muto up top due to his superior fitness levels. The Japanese international performed at an elite level against Manchester United and he was decent against Brighton and Southampton. Muto will be looking to have a meaningful impact in this must-win match and it would not be surprising to see his name on the score sheet this weekend.
Watford: Andre Gray
Like his aforementioned teammate, Roberto Pereyra, Andre Gray is also enjoying good form with three goals this season. Gray is not a prolific scorer as he has only scored 17 goals in 73 Premier League appearances, however, he has a tendency of scoring goals against Newcastle. Watford claimed the double over Newcastle last season and Gray scored in both matches. The Magpies’ back-line must find ways to intercept any passes aimed for Gray as the recipient because he can make Newcastle suffer with his shooting accuracy.