Newcastle vs Tottenham – Premier League: Eddie Howe forced into two changes from Fulham victory, as Spurs look to increase their grip on a top-four spot

Spurs have been extremely up and down this season, but there is no denying that they are a fantastic team.

Going into today Spurs sit in fourth level on points with Aston Villa, but with a better goal difference and a game in hand.

You feel they are now in pole position for a Champions League spot and a win today would do them a whole lot of good.

Even with a tough run-in, it’s theirs to lose.

Craig Hope, Mail Sport, at St James’ Park:

I said this before Everton last week, but the bench would be my concern from a Newcastle perspective. Games now are won and lost with 15/16 players, not 11. And Newcastle (again) have very little to turn to in reserve.

Newcastle fans are some of the best in the country.

I’m surprised that I’m yet to see a fan with their shirt off yet, it’s April, so there are bound to be a few.

You can feel the buzz around the ground already!

Alexander Isak, what a player.

In the 6-1 pasting Newcastle handed out to Spurs last year, Isak was the standout for me, netting two goals in two minutes.

The Swedish striker has already netted 15 goals this season in only 23 games, five more than he managed last campaign.

I said to my colleague that I believe he is the best signing in the Eddie Howe.

What do you guys think, is he?

Rodrigo Bentencur is back in the Tottenham starting line-up.

He is the only change to the side that beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 last week.

Is this 11 strong enough to pick up ll three points today?

Eddie Howe makes just the two changes from the side that beat Fulham last week.

Elliott Anderson and Harvey Barnes come into the starting 11 for the injured Joe Willock and Lewis Hall – who is benched.

Tino Livramento is also a shock inclusion as he is fit enough to be named on the bench.

I must admit, that’s a fairly strong attack, despite the injuries.

Eddie Howe, Newcastle boss, speaking on Friday:

That was a special game for us, everything clicked. We were devastating in attack, we were ruthless. One of those days you get rarely in football where everything went our way.

This is a totally different Tottenham team now. I admire them tactically, and physically, I think Ange [Postecoglou] deserves big credit with how his philosophy has been implemented and with the speed it has.

You didn’t have to wait long.

If you’re a Tottenham fan, you may want to scroll past this post, but you won’t want to if you’re anybody else.

In this very same fixture last season we saw the very best of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle and the very worst of managerless Tottenham.

The Magpies were relentless, shipping six past a hapless Spurs, with five of those goals coming in the first 21 minutes.

It was a match that showed the gulf in class between the two sides at the time and is one that will live long in the memory of both sets of fans.

Surely we won’t get a repeat of that today, will we?

Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham boss, speaking on Friday:

Certainly, there is a cautionary tale there that getting into the Champions League also means greater demands.

Demands on players, demands on the squad and you have to be geared up for it or else it can affect all parts of your season.

It has been tough on Newcastle this year because the progress last year was fantastic, the reward for that was the Champions League and this year for whatever reason it has made it a really challenging season on all fronts for them.

Tottenham love a trip to St James’ Park, most of the time.

The north London side have come out on top in six out of the last nine meetings between the two sides in the northeast.

However, those results probably aren’t in the mind of the current Tottenham squad, but one will be.

You know which one iI’m talking about, but you’ll have to wait a little longer for that post.

Not too long though…

Would it be a shock if Newcastle were to win today? I think it would.

I say this just because of the Magpies’ injury problems, not because they aren’t good enough to do it.

In reality, if Tottenham want to leapfrog Villa into the top four by the end of the season, they have to win here today.

Spurs still have to play all of the top three sides, they have a really tough run-in, but they can’t waver their focus away from today.

It’s a huge game for both sides and could determine where they end up finishing this season.

You won’t be able to keep your eyes off this one.

Is football back already?

You’ve got to love the final run-in, the football is non-stop which is perfect for people like me who adore the sport.

If you’re the same, you’re going to love what the Premier League is serving up in the early kick-off as Tottenham travel to St James’s Park seeking revenge after last year’s horror show (I reckon the Newcastle fans will be smiling right around now).

With both teams gunning for Europe in their own way and in a stadium that is notorious for creating an intimidating atmosphere, I think this is going to be very enjoyable, don’t you?

Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, make sure you don’t miss this one, you’ll regret it otherwise.

Let’s get stuck in!