Newcastle United vs. Bournemouth: Four players to watch

Newcastle United will be playing at home for the second consecutive weekend as they host a surprising member of the top six, Bournemouth.

Newcastle United will look to extend their winning streak to two matches in front of their home supporters when they face Bournemouth on Saturday. Newcastle’s unexpected victory against Watford last weekend temporarily lifted them into safety, but Rafa Benitez wants to make sure his side avoids the drop zone going forward.

Bournemouth, on the other hand, are rightfully flying high with confidence after occupying a spot among the top six in the table after 11 matches. The fact Bournemouth are where they are after four months of league play shows that they are fearless and are a team on the rise.

Anything can happen on Saturday, but the visitors are being tapped as favorites to win this match at St. James’ Park. Newcastle should feel relieved after ending their winless streak, but key players need to continue performing at a high level to help their side climb the table. Here are some players to keep a close eye on when the Magpies host the Cherries.

Newcastle: Ki Sung-yueng

Most of you probably saw this one coming, but Ki Sung-yueng is the most intriguing player to keep an eye on this weekend. One would only assume that Benitez will be wise enough to start Ki in midfield after his stellar performance against Watford and he deserves to start. In his seven years in the Top Flight, Ki has shown that he knows how to control the flow of a match and his composure and ability to spread the ball around will be crucial in order for Newcastle to win.

If Ki can control the tempo of this match and force Bournemouth to defend more than they anticipated, Newcastle stand a good chance at claiming three more points.

Bournemouth: Callum Wilson

Bournemouth’s key striker, Callum Wilson, already has six goals and four assists this season. Wilson is a dynamic striker who has flown under the radar in the Premier League for far too long. He boasts plenty of pace to beat defenders to a through-ball, he can maneuver around defenders to get in dangerous positions and, most importantly, he is a smart finisher who can score with both feet. Wilson will, undoubtedly, cause many problems for Newcastle’s back-line.

Newcastle: Martin Dubravka

Martin Dubravka deserves more attention than he is getting thus far this season. The Slovakia international goalkeeper has been able to secure four clean sheets for Newcastle, a tally which ranks him among the top four in the league. Dubravka’s success is largely tied to how well Newcastle’s back-line can close down on opposing strikers, but he should be prepared to make some big saves to keep the Magpies in this match. Bournemouth have scored 20 goals this season and they average 13 shots a game, which means Dubravka will be a busy man between the sticks.

Bournemouth: Nathan Ake

Nathan Ake is to Bournemouth what Jamaal Lascelles is to Newcastle. The 23-year-old is a solid defender who consolidates aggression and composure well. The consistency Ake has developed as a defender for Bournemouth is also a key reason why Manchester United are interested in securing his services in January.

Ake will frustrate Newcastle’s front-line and he will force the Magpies to depend on the wings for most of their attacks. Moreover, Newcastle would be wise to keep an eye on Ake during set pieces as he can easily threaten Dubravka’s goal with his aerial abilities.