Newcastle v Albion
PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: St. James' Park
Date: Saturday 21st September 2019
Kick-off: 17:30 BST
Referee: Martin Atkinson
Assistants: Lee Betts, Constantine Hatzidakis
Fourth official: Darren England
VAR: Anthony Taylor
Assistant VAR: Andrew Halliday
TEAM NEWS
Andy Carroll is in contention to make his first Newcastle appearance for nine years after recovering from ankle surgery, although the striker is not yet ready to start.
Another summer signing, Allan Saint-Maximin, is also set to return from injury, while Fabian Schar is fit despite being forced off at Liverpool.
But this game comes too soon for Sean Longstaff, who has an ankle injury.
Brighton's Martin Montoya returns after missing out last weekend with illness.
Fellow defender Bernardo has an outside chance of being available but Leandro Trossard, Ezequiel Schelotto, Jose Izquierdo, Leon Balogun and Alireza Jahanbakhsh remain sidelined.
MOTD COMMENTATOR'S NOTES
Guy Mowbray: A match to remind us how quickly things change.
Just 11 months ago this fixture pitched Rafa Benitez against Chris Hughton, with much local goodwill given to both - until Brighton went home with the points.
Judgement on their replacements might be reserved, but it's maybe worth noting that Newcastle have one more point now than after TEN games last year - despite having already faced three of the 'big six'. Brighton? Same again after five games - won one, drawn two, lost two.
The only previous meeting of Steve Bruce and Graham Potter came even more recently - Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 Swansea in February.
Different clubs, different league, different pressures now - particularly for Bruce to get his first home win. Quickly.
WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY
Newcastle United head coach Steve Bruce: "We all know if Andy Carroll stays fit he's a wonderful, wonderful centre-forward.
"[A] bit old school if you like to say that. Of his type, there's nobody better in the last 8-10 years when playing... a fit Andy Carroll is going to be huge [for us]."
Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Graham Potter: "We certainly don't go there thinking 'this is not Man City, so it's going to be easy or we've got more of a chance'.
"You just have to play your game and do your best. The opposition can cause you problems in the Premier League wherever you go."
Graham Potter: "We certainly don't go there thinking 'this is not Man City, so it's going to be easy or we've got more of a chance'.
"You just have to play your game and do your best. The opposition can cause you problems in the Premier League wherever you go."
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
[*=left]Newcastle have never won a top-flight match against Brighton, drawing two and losing two of four games and scoring just once.
[*=left]Those four meetings - all of which have come in the Premier League - have produced a total of four goals, with neither side scoring more than once in a single game.
Newcastle United
[*=left]The Magpies won five consecutive Premier League home matches between January and March but have claimed just one victory in their subsequent five matches on Tyneside (D1, L3).
[*=left]Newcastle have averaged 33% possession so far, the lowest figure in this season's Premier League.
[*=left]Three of their four league goals in 2019-20 have been scored in the first half, with their only strike after the break a stoppage-time consolation in the 3-1 defeat at Norwich.
[*=left]Christian Atsu has set up two goals in three Premier League appearances this season - as many assists as in his previous 56 top-flight games.
Albion
[*=left]Brighton have won one of their last 14 league matches (D5, L8), failing to score in eight of them.
[*=left]During this run they have scored two goals or more on just one occasion - in the 3-0 win at Watford on the opening weekend.
[*=left]The Seagulls have attempted 1,259 passes in their own half this season, the fifth highest total in the Premier League; they ranked 15th for such passes in 2018-19.
[*=left]Neal Maupay has seven goals in his last 11 league games: two in five matches for Brighton plus five in six for Brentford last season.
[*=left]Maupay was one of three players to score at least 25 Championship goals last season, along with Tammy Abraham and Teemu Pukki.
