Newcastle United host Chelsea this Saturday, so where are their last XI to beat the Blues in the Premier League now? Miguel Almiron was among those in Steve Bruce’s team in 2020.
The Magpies have lost in each of their last four meetings with the Stamford Bridge natives. Chelsea have also stopped Newcastle scoring in each game since losing to Isaac Hayden’s 94th-minute winner. The midfielder struck home at the death to win 1-0 at St James’ Park.
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Hayden’s goal secured a rare win for Newcastle over Chelsea, having only beaten the west London outfit once in their prior eight top-flight matches since 2014. Now, Eddie Howe will try to repeat Bruce’s feat this Saturday amid a sensational start to the season for the Toon.
Newcastle will enter the weekend in third place on 27 points after 14 games. The Magpies cannot fall out of the top four, either, with a four-point advantage over Manchester United in fifth. Chelsea will enter the weekend in just seventh with 21 points after 13 fixtures so far.
Chelsea are also without a win in four games following back-to-back defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal. Newcastle last lost a Premier League game in their only defeat of the season so far in August to Liverpool. The Magpies have won six and drawn three since.
So, ahead of Newcastle hosting Chelsea, HITC Football takes a look back to the last Toon XI to beat the Blues and where Bruce’s side are now with just three likely to start for Howe…
Martin Dubravka (GK): The Slovakian is the last Newcastle star to shut Chelsea out
Martin Dubravka is the last Newcastle goalkeeper to shut Chelsea out after starting their 1-0 win in January 2020. The Slovakian remained the Magpies’ No.1 between the sticks until this summer as Howe signed Nick Pope. Dubravka then joined Manchester United on loan.
Emil Krafth (RB): Newcastle are without the Swede against Chelsea through injury
Newcastle are without Emil Krafth for Chelsea’s trip to Tyneside on Saturday as the Swede continues his recovery from a knee injury. The 28-year-old has only played 39 minutes this season across all competitions after suffering the blow during his only start in the EFL Cup.
Federico Fernandez (CB): Elche signed the Argentine from Newcastle in September
Elche CF signed Federico Fernandez from Newcastle in September. The Argentine left the Magpies after four years but just 89 appearances. He only featured seven times during last season and earned all but two of his appearances before Howe replaced Bruce in charge.
Jamaal Lascelles (CB): Captained the last Newcastle XI to beat Chelsea in 2020
Jamaal Lascelles captained the last Newcastle XI to beat Chelsea in January 2020. The 28-year-old now only holds a backup role under Howe, however. He has fallen out of favour on Tyneside as Fabian Schar is Howe’s favoured partner for his £35m signing, Sven Botman.
Ciaran Clark (CB): Sheffield United have signed the defender on loan
Sheffield United have signed Ciaran Clark on loan for the 2022/23 Championship season to end his time in the wilderness. Howe had frozen the Republic of Ireland defender out at St James’. He omitted the 33-year-old from his 25-man Premier League team list in February.
Jetro Willems (LB): Newcastle loanee made his final outings vs Chelsea
Jetro Willems made his final outing with Newcastle in the XI that beat Chelsea in January 2020. The Dutchman had joined the Toon on loan for the term but he suffered a cruciate ligament injury against the Blues. The issue sidelined the 28-year-old until January 2021.
Bruce had used Willems in 20 games across all competitions whilst on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt. The left-back later left the Bundesliga side at the end of his contract in 2021 and joined Greuther Furth. But he is now a free agent after leaving the team after 26 matches.
Isaac Hayden (CM): Norwich signed the midfielder on loan with an obligation to buy
Norwich City signed Isaac Hayden on a season-long loan in June that carries an obligation to buy on performance-related conditions. He moved to Carrow Road having not featured for Howe since December due to knee surgery. The 27-year-old only returned in October.
Jonjo Shelvey (CM): A hamstring injury has left the midfielder with an uphill battle
A hamstring injury has left Jonjo Shelvey with an uphill battle to regain a place in Howe’s line-up. The midfielder sustained the issue on the eve of the 2022/23 campaign and only returned in October. But missing 10 league games has seen him drop in the pecking order.
Miguel Almiron (RW): Chelsea will face a confident Newcastle star on Saturday
Chelsea will face a confident Miguel Almiron when they visit Newcastle this Saturday. The Paraguayan is in sensational form with eight goals in 14 Premier League games this season. He had only scored nine over his previous 110 since joining from Atlanta United for £21m.
Joelinton (ST): A flop as a forward, but Newcastle’s POTY as a midfielder
Joelinton was a flop as a forward after Newcastle signed the Brazilian from Hoffenheim for £40m to top Bruce’s attack. But Howe flipped the 26-year-old’s career around by using him in midfield. So much so that Newcastle named Joelinton as their Player of the Year in May.
Allan Saint-Maximin (LW): Winger assisted Hayden as Newcastle last beat Chelsea
Hayden headed home Allan Saint-Maximin’s cross to score the last Newcastle goal to beat a Chelsea XI in January 2020. The 94th-minute deadlock-breaker was the midfielder’s first goal and the winger’s second assist of the Premier League season to go 12th in the table.
The Blues were fourth and remained fourth after losing on Tyneside. Graham Potter will now hope to avoid the result Bruce’s Toon dealt Frank Lampard’s Stamford Bridge outfit. The Chelsea boss will also hope Saint-Maximin does not record his fourth assist of this term.
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