These two recently relegated sides will meet at Villa Park on Saturday in the late Sky Sports featured game. (17:30 KO GMT.)
Newcastle have made a more than respectable start to life outside the Premier League and currently sit third with fifteen points. Villa, on the other hand, have largely struggled and the division’s draw specialists sit 18th after the conclusion of the first eight games.
Team News:
Aston Villa-
The big decision from the Aston Villa camp of course; is whether to include 20-year-old Jack Grealish. The former Irish under-21 international, who opted to make himself available for the English National Team, is currently under investigation following accusations that the star attended a late-night party; following his side’s 0-0 draw away at Ipswich Town.
Elsewhere, Aaron Tshibola has been given the green light to return. The former reading player has missed Villa’s last five games with a groin strain. Albert Adomah is also pushing for his first start after making his début as a substitute at Ipswich last weekend.
Ross McCormack, Rudy Gestede and Nathan Baker all face late fitness tests.
Newcastle-
Newcastle don’t have too many injury worries going into this fixture. They are, however, without former Atletico Madrid man Jesus Gamez, who is currently recovering from a calf injury.
DeAndre Yedlin could remain at right back as Newcastle are still without the suspended, Vurnon Anita; who sits out the second of his three game ban.
Form guides-
The Villans go into this fixture without a win in their last six games, their last and only win – coming against Rotherham on the 13th August.
They have only managed to score once in their last five against Newcastle and they also boast the unwanted record of dropping the most points in the championship this season, with nine.
In-form Newcastle, on the other hand, arrive in Birmingham having won five of their last six games in the league, including their last three away games in all competitions.
A win for Newcastle could put them just a point behind the leagues early leaders, Huddersfield Town.
Prediction-
Aston Villa 1-2 Newcastle.
