Newcastle United vs Aston Villa Prediction: Isak to star for Toon Army again

Newcastle United welcome Aston Villa to St. James' Park on Thursday for what should be an entertaining Boxing Day clash (15:00, live on Prime Video).

The Magpies are up to eighth in the table after an emphatic 4-0 win over Ipswich Town at the weekend, while Villa claimed a famous 2-1 win against Manchester City. Read on for my Newcastle United vs Aston Villa prediction, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

The hosts will be without the services of Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles and Emil Krafth, while first-choice goalkeeper Nick Pope is likely to be out until the middle of January after picking up a knee injury in the defeat at Brentford on December 7.

Callum Wilson continues to nurse a hamstring problem and is expected to be sidelined until at least February. Joelinton, who missed the victory over Ipswich due to suspension, is expected to feature here despite concerns around the facial injury he sustained in the Carabao Cup win over Brentford that required stitches.

As for the visitors, Jhon Duran could lead the line once more for Unai Emery's side, after starting and scoring against Manchester City on Saturday.

Leon Bailey returned to the bench against the reigning champions after recently recovering from a muscle injury, and Jacob Ramsey is back in first-team training, although Thursday's game will come too soon for him.

Newcastle United vs Aston Villa Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Newcastle United vs Aston Villa page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Newcastle are 19/20 favourites for the game, giving them an implied win probability of 51.3%, while the draw can be backed at 11/4 and it's the same price for an Aston Villa win.

After his hat-trick against Ipswich, Alexander Isak leads the anytime goalscorer market at 11/10, and Ollie Watkins is shortest-priced for the visitors at 13/8.

Draw @ 11/4

Newcastle's recent victories over Leicester City and Ipswich have ended a four-game winless streak, and the Magpies enter the hectic festive period in much better form.

The Toon Army are now only five points behind fourth-placed Nottingham Forest and will approach the home encounter against Villa with plenty of confidence after hitting eight goals without reply in their last two league outings.

However, as mentioned, Emery's men were particularly impressive against City at the weekend and head to St. James' Park determined to prove that they deserve to be amongst the league's top four once again come the end of the season.

Villa's away form is a concern, though - they've lost their last four on the road in the league but they should take enough confidence from the win over Pep Guardiola's side to earn at least a point on Boxing Day.

Alexander Isak to score anytime @ 11/10

The Sweden international is in sensational form for Eddie Howe's side heading into Thursday's showdown.

He scored his first hat-trick for the club in the aforementioned 4-0 win over Ipswich, and has now scored in Newcastle's last four Premier League games.

Isak has 10 goals in 15 league appearances this term, putting him in fourth place in the scoring charts, and I think he can add to his tally here against an Villa side that have kept just one clean sheet in their last six matches across all competitions.

Offers

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