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Newcastle United’s starting line-up to face Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League has been confirmed with a big decision made regarding Sandro Tonali.

After impressing on his return at Nottingham Forest, Tonali has dropped back to the bench as one of five changes from the Carabao Cup win. Kieran Trippier, Miguel Almiron and Lewis Hall drop to the bench while Joe Willock misses out due to injury.

There was an unexpected injury boost on the bench with Martin Dubravka named back in the side despite missing the last two matches due to a concussion. Eddie Howe has also named a front three of Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Alexander Isak, the same front three that started the 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur back in April.

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Summer signing Lloyd Kelly makes his full home debut at left-back while Tino Livramento comes in at right-back fresh from a first England call-up. Bruno Guimaraes starts as captain while Sean Longstaff returns to the starting line-up after coming off the bench and netting the winning penalty at the City Ground in midweek.

NUFC XI v Spurs: Pope; Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Kelly; Joelinton, Longstaff, Guimaraes; Gordon, Barnes, Isak

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The match officials for Newcastle United’s Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur have been confirmed.

Robert Jones will be the referee for the match at St James’ Park assisted by Ian Hussin and Nick Greenhalgh with Darren Bond as fourth official. Jones’ last match refereeing Newcastle was the 3-2 defeat at Manchester United in the penultimate match of the 2023-24 season.

Jones’ appointment as referee of a Newcastle match in the penultimate match of the 2022-23 season caused controversy. With The Magpies chasing Champions League football ahead of Liverpool, the Merseyside-based referee was chosen to officiate Newcastle’s match against Brighton & Hove Albion at St James’ Park.

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Newcastle fans took to social media to voice their concern regarding the appointment but Eddie Howe’s side ultimately won the match 4-1 and ended up qualifying for the Champions League. In addition to the defeat at Old Trafford, Jones also officiated Newcastle’s 4-3 win over West Ham United, 1-0 win over Manchester United and 1-0 defeat at Manchester City last season.

Jones’ previous visit to St James’ Park, the win over West Ham, saw him send Anthony Gordon off and award two penalties to the home side that were converted by Alexander Isak. West Ham were also controversially allowed a goal despite Fabian Schar being down with a head injury.

Newcastle’s opening two Premier League games have experienced VAR controversy with Schar sent off against Southampton and AFC Bournemouth being disallowed a stoppage-time winner. Stuart Attwell will be on VAR duty for the match, assisted by Natalie Aspinall.

Newcastle and Spurs head into Sunday’s match having picked up four points from their opening two games. The Magpies beat Spurs 4-0 at St James’ Park back in April and 6-1 the season prior.

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Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe confirmed a training ground injury ahead of Sunday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur (1:30pm kick-off).

Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has been absent from Newcastle’s last two matchday squads due to a concussion. Summer signing John Ruddy has been called up to the bench for the matches at AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest in Dubravka’s absence.

The club must follow the relevant concussion protocol which prevents players from playing matches for at least six days but symptoms can often last longer, delaying a potential return.

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And Howe has now confirmed that the injury was picked up on the training ground and hopes to have Dubravka back available for selection shortly.

“He's had a concussion so that's something we've been monitoring due to a training ground collision with a player,” Howe said. “Hopefully he's nearing a full return to fitness.”

Newcastle face Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park on Sunday as they look to continue their unbeaten start to the new season.

Dubravka was in goal for the previous meeting between the sides back in April as he kept a clean sheet in a 4-0 win. The Magpies head into the match with five senior goalkeepers under contract following the summer arrivals of Ruddy and Odysseas Vlachodimos.

Although at least one goalkeeper is set to be left out of Newcastle’s 25-man squad which will be ratified next week, Howe is content with the situation.

“The goalkeeper situation is fine,” he said. “We've got a good team of goalkeepers who are pushing each other daily.”

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Newcastle United have been handed a small injury boost with Joe Willock’s thigh issue not as bad as first feared.

Willock was forced off after scoring in Newcastle’s Carabao Cup second-round win at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night with a thigh issue that head coach Eddie Howe said ‘didn’t look good’ as he described it as a ‘huge blow’. The 25-year-old midfielder is set to miss Sunday’s Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park.

When asked about Willock’s injury ahead of the Spurs match, Howe said: "Joe had a scan [on Thursday], an early scan, it is relatively good news.

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“I don’t think it is a serious injury, but it is early, so we will re-scan again in a few days again to confirm that.” It was a more positive update after Howe initially told The Gazette: “A huge blow for [Willock] and for us. We just hope it's not serious.

“It doesn't look good, he's feeling a pain in his thigh so we'll have to wait and see how serious it is.”

In addition to Willock, Newcastle also have Callum Wilson, Lewis Miley, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles out injured against Spurs while Fabian Schar will serve the final match of his three-match suspension.

Martin Dubravka is also a doubt with a concussion injury picked up in training that has seen him miss the last two matches. Newcastle have made an unbeaten start to the new season with four point from their opening two Premier League matches against Southampton and AFC Bournemouth before progressing to the third round of the Carabao Cup after beating Forest on penalties.

The Magpies have taken four points from their first two league games and progressed in the Carabao Cup over Premier League opposition in the form of Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night - albeit on penalties. However, this weekend sees them face their toughest test yet when Ange Postecoglou brings his Tottenham Hotspur side to St James’ Park.

Spurs have also taken four points from their first two league games and defeated Everton 4-0 last weekend as they look to push for Champions League qualification. Postecoglou, though, may be without new signing Dominic Solanke who was injured during their win against Leicester City on the opening weekend of the season.

Howe, meanwhile, will still be without the suspended Fabian Schar and a few long-term injured players. Sandro Tonali could be handed his first Premier League start in over ten months this weekend after playing over an hour at the CIty Ground upon his return to the first-team.

Here, we take a look at the starting XI that Howe could name for the visit of Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Do you agree with our picks? Follow us on our social media channels and let us know your thoughts there.

Both Eddie Howe and Ange Postecoglou’s sides have taken four points from their first two games with their meeting on Sunday set to be a good barometer of where both teams are at the early stages of the season. Newcastle United won this meeting 4-0 back in April, but will be wary of a Spurs team that put four past Everton at the weekend.

Howe will continue to be without Fabian Schar as he serves the final match of his three game ban following his red card against Southampton. He will also have to deal with a number of long-term injuries as well as a fresh blow for Joe Willock who limped off against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.

Spurs, meanwhile, also have a couple of injuries to worry about with their star summer signing, Dominic Solanke, potentially set to miss the trip to St James’ Park. The former Bournemouth man enjoys a good record against the Magpies from his time at the Vitality Stadium.

Here, we take a look at the latest injury and suspension news from both camps ahead of Sunday’s game between Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur:

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Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has claimed Callum Wilson ‘definitely won’t’ return from injury before the international break.

Wilson missed all of Newcastle’s pre-season matches as well as the opening games of the 2024-25 campaign with a back issue that required a small procedure. Although Howe initially claimed his side would only be without the striker for the opening ‘couple of games’, he is now facing at least two months on the sidelines in total.

“Callum is continuing his rehabilitation from injury,” Howe told The Gazette. “I am happy with his progress. He is working very hard, as he always does.

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“We miss him, he adds a different dynamic. He is such an important character around the squad, we hope to get him back soon, [but] he definitely won't be back before the international break.”

Newcastle travel to Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening (8pm kick-off) before hosting Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park on Sunday (1:30pm kick-off). Wilson will miss both matches but could be back involved for the trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers following the international break on September 15.

Wilson initially returned for pre-season training at Newcastle in July and travelled to Germany with the squad before pulling out of training due to his back problem. The 32-year-old has since been filmed skipping and working individually on his rehabilitation.

He has also been linked with a move away from the club this transfer window now he is into the final year of his contract at St James’ Park but no formal proposals have been made for the player so far.

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Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon combined to rescue a point for Newcastle United at Bournemouth on Sunday.

Barnes came off the bench to brilliantly set up Gordon for a 76th minute equaliser at the Vitality Stadium to cancel out Marcus Tavernier’s opening goal. Given Barnes and Gordon usually compete for the same left-wing position, it was a rare occasion in which both players were on the pitch for Newcastle.

There have been many calls for Newcastle to strengthen out on the right wing with Jacob Murphy and Miguel Almiron currently Eddie Howe’s options down that side. But on Sunday, Barnes was introduced on the left wing as Gordon switched out to the right with Murphy being withdrawn.

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The first time Howe named a front three of Barnes on the left, Gordon on the right and Alexander Isak through the middle was the 4-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur back in April. It was arguably one of Newcastle’s best attacking performances of the season and Spurs just so happen to be next up in the Premier League at St James’ Park.

After the 4-0 win against Spurs, Howe named the same front three in the following match at Crystal Palace. It has not been seen in a Newcastle starting line-up since the 2-0 defeat at Selhurst Park.

But playing Gordon on the right and Barnes on the left is a potential solution to strengthening Newcastle on the right wing without having to make a new signing. But Howe played down the suggestion somewhat.

“I think the balance has to be right,” Howe said about naming Gordon, Barnes and Isak as his front three. “Of course, you want the players that enter the pitch to be comfortable to give their best performances, and it’s my job to give them that environment.

“Of course, we’ll assess everything and try and make the right decisions for the team but there’s no doubting either player’s qualities. You could see Harvey’s impact [at Bournemouth], his crossing ability and directness - we needed it at that time in the game.”

Before Newcastle host Spurs in the Premier League, they will travel to face Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.

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The match officials have been confirmed for Newcastle United’s Premier League match at Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon (2pm kick-off).

David Coote will referee will referee the match at the Vitality Stadium. It will be Coote’s first match refereeing Newcastle since the 6-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park in April 2023.

Coote also refereed Newcastle’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final a couple of months earlier. At Bournemouth, he will be assisted by Lee Betts and Craig Taylor with Simon Hooper as fourth official.

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Tim Robinson will be on VAR, assisted by Neil Davies. Newcastle have already been on the receiving end of a controversial refereeing decision after just one match this season after Craig Pawson decided to show Fabian Schar a straight red card for violent conduct against Ben Brereton Diaz in Newcastle’s 1-0 win over Southampton last weekend.

Brereton Diaz pushed Schar to the ground before going head-to-head with the Swiss defender and promptly throwing himself to the ground once contact had been made. Pawson made the decision to show Schar a red card which was not overturned by VAR.

Following the win, Newcastle analysed the footage and decided to appeal the red card but the decision was upheld. As a result, Schar will serve a three-match suspension - starting against Bournemouth this weekend.

The 32-year-old will also miss the midweek trip to Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup as well as next weekend’s match against Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park. He will be eligible to return to action at Wolverhampton Wanderers on September 15 (4:30pm kick-off).

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Eddie Howe has confirmed that Fabian Schar will not feature against Bournemouth on Sunday.

Schar was sent off during the first-half of Saturday’s win over Southampton following an off-the-ball incident with Ben Brereton Diaz. Schar was adjudged to have headbutted the Chilean international and was dismissed by Craig Pawson for violent conduct - an action that carries a three-game suspension.

Schar reacted to a shove in the back from Brereton Diaz by first pushing his opponent, before then squaring up to him. The Saints man then fell dramatically to the floor after going face-to-face with Schar - leading to a red card being shown by Pawson.

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Eddie Howe revealed last week that the club would appeal Schar’s dismissal with the aim of having his suspension reduced. He told the Gazette: “We'll analyse the sending off and everything attached to that. I haven't seen it back but once we have we'll see what we do.

“I thought it was soft, that was my initial impression. It feels like Fabby has been caught by a well-managed situation. But before I criticise any players involved I’ll have to see it again.”

However, that appeal has subsequently failed, meaning that Schar will miss the trip to the Vitality Stadium, their Carabao Cup game against Nottingham Forest as well as their clash with Tottenham Hotspur at St James’ Park next weekend.

The timing of the red card means Schar won’t feature for the Magpies again until after the September international break. Newcastle United are awaiting reasons from the FA as to why their appeal was not successful.