The conversation surrounding Newcastle United’s current trajectory has reached a fever pitch, and former England star Joe Cole is the latest pundit to weigh in on the club’s prospects. As the Magpies prepare to host Aston Villa at St James’ Park for a highly anticipated 2 pm kick-off, the stakes could not be higher.
For Eddie Howe and his squad, the mission is simple yet massive: a victory today could potentially catapult them into the Premier League top four by the end of the weekend, provided other results across the country fall in their favor.
The atmosphere on Tyneside is electric, fueled by a midweek European victory and a general sense that the team is hitting its stride at exactly the right time.
Joe Cole, speaking to Paddy Power, expressed a great deal of confidence in the home side’s ability to secure all three points. When looking at this specific matchup, Cole emphasized that he can only see one outcome.
His reasoning isn’t just based on the quality of the players, but also on the grueling physical demands of the modern football schedule. This is a classic “tricky” fixture on paper, but the context of the week gives Newcastle a distinct edge.
The Magpies enjoyed a convincing win at home against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Wednesday night, while Aston Villa was busy navigating a difficult away trip to Turkey for a Europa League clash on Thursday.
That extra day of rest and recovery is often the deciding factor in the Premier League. While Newcastle remained in the comfort of their own city, Villa had to endure a long-haul flight and the hostile environments of international travel.
Cole pointed out that the betting prices for the match are surprisingly competitive because of Villa’s overall form this season, but he remains steadfast in his belief that the home advantage and the fatigue of the visitors will dictate the result.
Newcastle’s ability to prepare in a calm environment while their opponents were still in the air gives Howe a tactical and physical “head start” that shouldn’t be underestimated.
Aston Villa’s season has been something of a fairytale, leading to whispers that they might even be genuine title contenders. They managed an incredible run where they won 12 out of 13 matches, an achievement that put the rest of the league on notice.
However, a closer look at those numbers reveals a more nuanced story. In 10 of those 12 victories, the winning margin was only a single goal. This suggests that while Unai Emery’s side has been playing to a very high standard, they have also relied on fine margins, a bit of luck, and favorable refereeing decisions. Recently, those margins have started to turn against them.
The heavy workload of competing in the Europa League seems to have finally caught up with the Villa squad. Combined with a string of injuries to key personnel, their domestic form has taken a significant hit.
While they managed a win against a struggling Nottingham Forest, their recent track record includes a heavy 4-1 defeat to Arsenal, a frustrating goalless draw with Crystal Palace, and a disappointing 1-0 loss at home to Everton.
Coming into St James’ Park on the back of such results is a daunting task for any team, let alone one that played on a different continent just three days ago.
Beyond the team result, Joe Cole also highlighted one specific individual who he expects to dominate the afternoon: Anthony Gordon. The winger has had a stellar week, fresh off a goal-scoring performance in the Champions League against PSV.
Cole expects Gordon to maintain that momentum today, predicting that he will either score or provide an assist. Gordon’s impact this season has been undeniable; he is currently neck-and-neck with Harvey Barnes for the title of the club’s most productive attacking threat.
Currently, Harvey Barnes leads the squad with 14 direct goal involvements, consisting of 12 goals and two assists. Gordon follows closely with 13 involvements, having netted nine times and provided four assists.
The internal competition between these two, along with the contributions of Bruno Guimaraes and the rising Nick Woltemade, has transformed Newcastle into one of the most dangerous offensive units in the country. The depth of their attacking talent is highlighted by the statistics of their top contributors this season.
| Player Name | Goals | Assists | Total Involvements |
| Harvey Barnes | 12 | 2 | 14 |
| Anthony Gordon | 9 | 4 | 13 |
| Bruno Guimaraes | 8 | 5 | 13 |
| Nick Woltemade | 9 | 3 | 12 |
| Joelinton | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Lewis Miley | 3 | 3 | 6 |
Newcastle fans will fondly remember the last time Gordon faced a big challenge at home on a holiday weekend. Last Boxing Day, he scored a sensational goal within the first two minutes of the match, setting the tone for a dominant 3-0 win.
If Newcastle can replicate that kind of blistering start today, Joe Cole’s prediction will likely look very smart by the final whistle. The combination of a rested squad, a raucous home crowd, and in-form attackers makes the Magpies a formidable force that Villa may struggle to contain.
