Seeking to boost their chances of securing Champions League football for next season, Newcastle United travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Friday night.

While the Tricky Trees have not lost a league game on home soil since October, the Magpies are still searching for their first top-flight away victory in 2023.

Players to watch: Jesse Lingard is yet to get off the mark in the league for Nottingham Forest, but has got his joint-second most number of PL goals against Newcastle, three in seven attempts (W3, D1, L3).

In opposition, Newcastle’s Alexander Isak scored against Wolves last weekend but has a relatively mediocre win percentage of 59% across his last 22 goalscoring games (W13, D5, L4).

Hot stat: Just ten of Forest’s 26 PL matches have seen both teams score, a joint low for the division.

Nottingham Forest Premier League form:

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Newcastle United Premier League form:

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Newcastle United form (all competitions):

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Nottingham Forest possible starting lineup:

Navas; Aurier, Worrall, Felipe, Lodi; Yates, Shelvey, Freuler; Lingard, Gibbs-White; Dennis

Newcastle United possible starting lineup:

Pope; Trippier, Botman, Schar, Burn; S. Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock; Almiron, Isak, Saint-Maximin

Nottingham Forest 0-2 Newcastle United FT

Forest have fared much better on home soil so far this season and will hope that the City Ground faithful can spur them on once again as they bid to climb away from the relegation zone.

However, the potential absence of Johnson and Wood could see the hosts struggle to pose a threat in front of goal, and with Newcastle heading into Friday’s game in buoyant mood following last weekend’s victory, we can see the Magpies edging out the Tricky Trees in a tight affair.