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Newcastle vs. Villa: 4 players to keep an eye on

By Durim Halimi

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 06: Miguel Almiron of Newcastle United has a shot at goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St. James Park on October 06, 2019 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 06: Miguel Almiron of Newcastle United has a shot at goal during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St. James Park on October 06, 2019 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) /
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Aston Villa will host Newcastle United at Villa Park on Monday and both teams have a few players who can make the difference in this match.

Newcastle United will be in Birmingham on Monday to take on Aston Villa. The Magpies aim to build on their current momentum as a win on Monday would mark their third in a row and it could see them climb into the top ten. The Villans, on the other hand, have lost their last three matches and their schedule doesn’t get any easier after this clash.

Collective urgency shouldn’t be lacking in this match, but both teams need their most talented players to perform at an elite level and make the most of their chances in front of goal. That being said, here are four players that supporters from both teams should keep an eye on.

Newcastle United: Miguel Almiron

Miguel Almiron is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders as a result of not finding the back of the net in a Newcastle United jersey since joining in January. The former MLS star has come close on several occasions, but he has a great opportunity to end his scoring drought on Monday. In fact, my colleague, Carson Merk, is predicting that Almiron will score on Monday. Aston Villa will be starting Orjan Nyland, their third choice keeper and his inexperience in the Premier League could benefit Almiron.

Aston Villa: John McGinn

John McGinn is attracting the attention of some top clubs with his stellar performances for Aston Villa. The Scottish international is a dynamic midfielder who has quick feet, plays aggressive football and threatens keepers from distance. McGinn has scored three goals and bagged two assists this season. Moreover, McGinn has already taken 34 shots this season and he will be a handful for the Magpies’ back-line. Containing McGinn is a must for Newcastle United if they want to win on the road.

Newcastle United: Allan Saint-Maximin

No team has been able to slow Allan Saint-Maximin down this season and I do not expect Aston Villa to contain the technical Frenchman. Saint-Maximin is becoming Newcastle United’s primary playmaker. He has already set up multiple goals for his teammates, but in recent weeks has started to attack the goal himself. With Almiron running down one flank, and Saint-Maximin down the other, Aston Villa’s defenders must be aware of their surroundings and time their tackles to perfection.

Next. EPL Week 13: Results that would help Newcastle. dark

Aston Villa: Anwar El Ghazi

I was thinking of saving this slot for either Jack Grealish or Wesley Moraes, but Anwar El Ghazi won my vote because he is what I consider to be one of the Premier League’s darkhorses. In other words, El Ghazi is for Aston Villa what Ayoze Perez was for Newcastle United over the last two seasons. El Ghazi struggles with consistency at times, but when he is on his game he is one of the best players on the pitch. So far this season, El Ghazi has scored twice and completed three assists. Defensively, he utilizes his tall frame (6’4″) well, but he has been at fault for sleeping at the wheel at times as players he was supposed to be marking ended up scoring.