The stats that show if Mikel Merino starts for Newcastle against West Brom tonight they have a much better chance of winning.
Andre Gray of Watford scores his side’s third goal past RobElliot of Newcastle United during the Premier League match.
Newcastle United are on a sorry run of form having lost their last four Premier League matches with a 3-0 home defeat to Watford their most recent setback.
They will have a chance to rectify that when they travel to West Bromwich Albion in the top tier of English football tonight (November 28) and there is one key reason they should be positive.
A general view outside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and AFC Bournemouth at The Hawthorns.
That is the potential of Mikel Merino returning to the starting XI, having missed three of those four losses and only coming off the bench for the last 21 minutes of the game against the Hornets.
Merino has been hugely influential since completing a summer switch to St James’ Park from Borussia Dortmund on an initial loan deal that has since been confirmed as permanent.
In fact the statistics show that with the 21-year-old in the team the Magpies are a much more different prospect to when the Spaniard is absent.
Mikel Merino of Newcastle United celebrates as he scores during the Premier League match against Crystal Palace.
In the six league games Merino has started this season, Newcastle have won three, drawn one and lost two. In the seven the midfielder has missed they have won one, drawn one and lost five – with that sole victory coming against Crystal Palace when the Spain Under-21 international came off the bench to score the winner.
The Baggies may think this is the perfect time to take on Rafa Benitez’s men, but with Merino back the Toon boss will have every reason to be confident his side can leave the Hawthorns with at least a point; if not all three.
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