Sky Sports provide major update on Newcastle squad ahead of West Brom clash
This weekend’s Premier League game between West Brom and Newcastle United is ‘likely to go ahead’ even if the Magpies have a weakened squad, according to Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie.
There have been doubts over whether Saturday’s game will go ahead after the Magpies’ last league game was postponed following an outbreak of COVID-19 at their training ground.
But, Sky Sports are reporting that the game is ‘likely’ to go ahead even if Newcastle don’t have a full-strength squad available.
Downie reported, “There’s been no news from Newcastle United yet as to whether they’ll appeal for this weekend’s match to be postponed like they did for the Aston Villa one last week.
“But the fact that the training ground is back open for the players that are able to prepare for the game on Saturday would suggest the likelihood is that this home match against West Bromwich Albion at St James’ Park is likely to go ahead, whether Newcastle have a full complement of players to pick from or not.”
This could come as a huge boost to the Baggies if some of Newcastle’s more influential players are unavailable for Saturday’s match.
Albion are in dire need of a positive result after last weekend’s demoralising 5-1 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace.
A decent result on Tyneside is the best way for Slaven Bilic’s squad to respond but they face a difficult task against a Newcastle side who have picked up some decent results this season.
In the Magpies’ last game they grabbed a 2-0 win over Palace as they succeeded where the Baggies failed last weekend.
However, if Newcastle are missing key men such as Callum Wilson or Allan Saint-Maximin, Albion may have a decent chance of taking something away from St James’ Park.
It remains to be seen which Newcastle players may or may not be available but one player who won’t be taking part in this weekend’s game is Matheus Pereira. He will serve the first part of his three-game ban after been sent off against Palace in what is a major blow to Bilic’s side.
In other West Brom news, another Baggie won’t travel to Newcastle after picking up a fresh injury.
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