Dugout Discussion – Newcastle vs Man City

The penultimate match of Gameweek 20 gets underway at this evening as Newcastle United welcome league leaders Manchester City to St James’ Park.

Up against a defence with just a single clean sheet in 15 attempts, Pep Guardiola’s side boast three of the top ten captains for this round of fixtures.

Significantly Sergio Aguero – their most backed armband pick (6.2%) – is again chosen to lead the line and makes his fourth successive Premier League start. Gabriel Jesus warms the bench yet again, then.

Kevin De Bruyne (4.2%) and Raheem Sterling (3.1%) are also handed starts, though both have some way to go to match Harry Kane’s 17-point haul at home to Southampton yesterday.

Nonetheless, the pair arrive on Tyneside in fine form. De Bruyne has three goals and two assists in City’s previous six, with three sets of 10+ points hauls during that run.

Meanwhile, Sterling – the top target in midfield for Gameweek 20, with over 173,00 new owners – has served up 34 points in three, courtesy of three goals and a trio of assists.

David Silva’s ongoing personal issues means he misses out for the second time in three matches, however, with Ilkay Gundogan partnering De Bruyne in the centre of the park in his absence. Leroy Sane is also on the timber despite his early withdrawal against Bournemouth last time out – he’s now started just four of the last seven Gameweeks.