Newcastle vs Man City – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Kevin De Bruyne makes the bench for the visitors aiming to move second with win against struggling hosts

To say the former Leeds midfielder has been overlooked at the Etihad is an understatement. In an injury-hit season, Phillips has played just 318 minutes across all competitions in City colours.

Signs of a much-discussed loan move are yet to appear. Juventus were thought to be ardent suitors of the England international, who will need minutes under his belt before EURO 2024 in the summer, but the Serie A side have gone silent.

In the Premier League, it’s the Magpies who appear most interested… but City have been unwilling to let him go to a rival.

Howe’s club are said to have entered talks with the sky blue side of Manchester, but with their ability to move in the window thrown into doubt, tonight’s match could be Phillips’ last chance to step onto the turf at St James’ Park… or even watch the tie from the bench.

The clock runs down before kick-off.

We’ll be underway in just over half-an-hour.

It hasn’t been the quietest week for the England international, but he’ll look to put his business off the pitch at the back of his mind as he starts for Man City this evening.

For a primer on what exactly has been going on in Prestbury, you can read Mail Sport’s latest update below.

The Magpies have been incredibly injury-strapped – and with limited January shopping to look forward to – Howe will hope he doesn’t lose yet more men today.

I think we lose a bit of physicality, a bit of drive, a bit of steel in our midfield.

It’s a big loss for us, but (Lewis Miley) comes back into the team. He’s been so important to us, and hopefully he can still help.

On the importance of the derby win:

Yeah it was (important). We needed a win and we needed a win quickly. No better place to do it. We were much more like ourselves.

Hopefully it’s given us a little lift.

We score a lot of goals lately, and a lot of players have scored. (But) of course we miss Erling.

But Julian has made a step forward and he is doing well.

The scouts at city did a really really good job to bring him here.

The manager is succinct on whether he things City will be active in the market.

I don’t think so.

Rio Ferdinand on the mic thinks Guardiola is ‘definitely lying’. When it comes to transfers, it wouldn’t be the first time…

Just one chance for Howe today from the side that stunned the Stadium of Light last weekend, as Lewis Miley comes in for the injured Joelinton.

Guardiola has also been forced into making a change, as Jeremy Doku comes in for Jack Grealish – he’s still suffering with the Man City virus that has cut a swathe through the squad.

And there’s one more change from the side that last faced Sheffield United in the league as injured Manuel Akanji is swapped for Ruben Dias.

Erling Haaland has suffered a setback in his comeback from injury and may not return before next month.

You can read Jack Gaughan’s full report from the Etihad below.

Debate will roil on – possibly for years – as to whether the Catalan manager shot himself in the proverbial foot letting academy starboy Cole Palmer move to league rivals Chelsea.

Certainly, Blues fans were happy to have him again today, when he netted the winner in their west London derby against Fulham.

But where does he rank amongst the rest of the young England up-and-comers – including Newcastle’s own Anthony Gordon?

But no use dwelling on the past! This season’s the thing, and in September, Howe’s side blacked the eye of the Treble winners with victory at home in the Carabao Cup.

You can reminisce, if you choose, with Craig Hope’s report below.

The Magpies have won just one of their last 32 league meetings against today’s opponents. The tie came long before Newcastle could dare to dream about a Saudi takeover and challenging for a spot at the Big Six table in January 2019, when Salomon Rondon and Matt Ritchie’s contributions were enough to cancel out Sergio Aguero’s first-minute opener at St James’ Park.

Of the starting XI that featured against Guardiola’s that day, only Lascelles, Dubravka, Schar, and Sean Longstaff still feature for the club. Fans will hope their muscle memory kicks in.

Newcastle aren’t feeling very popular of late, with Eddie Howe claiming that the club has no friends and limited resources in a window when the squad could very much benefit from both.

Watch Craig Hope’s report from Newcastle’s training ground to learn why the head coach might be so down in the mouth after a dazzling 2022-23.

Pep Guardiola’s side have an ominous record in the second-half of the season, and have made a habit of turning on the after-burners to propel them to inevitable Premier League victory after a less-than-impressive start to the winter ties.

This year has been no different, and City sit off-pace in third having been hindered by injuries, suspensions, and a touch of a Treble hangover towards the end of 2023.

But victory at St James’ Park would boost them to just two points of Liverpool at the top of the table. Newcastle’s shaky form – which has seen them lose their last three league ties – plus the long-awaited return of Kevin De Bruyne likely has the Catalan rubbing his hands together at the thought of closing the gap.

Ahead of Newcastle’s clash with Manchester City, we continue our journey into the Mail Sport archives — back to a time before Middle Eastern cash turned these historic sides into two of the richest clubs in the world.

Like City, Newcastle is a club of modest beginnings.

They were founded in 1892 when rivals Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End merged in the Northern League – now the ninth tier…

READ MORE BELOW.

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s live coverage of Manchester City’s trip to St James’ Park to face Newcastle, with kick-off coming at 5.30pm.

Stick with us as we bring you all the team news, build-up, and more ahead of the afternoon’s showpiece Premier League tie.