Newcastle team news: Wieffer ready, Gomez, March and Milner ruled out

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Read the full preview ahead of Saturday's game at St James' Park.

Charlie Hanson

2026-05-01T12:00+01:00

Mats Wieffer has made 24 Premier League appearances so far this campaign. 📸 by Paul Hazlewood.

Our men's first team will be looking to extend their impressive run of form in the Premier League when they take on Newcastle United on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

Team news

Fabian Hurzeler confirmed that Mats Wieffer is in contention after going off at half-time of our 3-0 win over Chelsea, while James Milner, Solly March and Diego Gomez will all miss the contest at St James' Park.

On Mats Wieffer, "He trained the whole week. It's a small issue with his ankle. He has had it through the whole season, so we try to keep helping him to keep improving his ankle and he will be available for tomorrow.

"Unfortunately, both [James and Solly] are not available, but both are very close and they will be in training next week. I hope that they will be an option for the next game.

"I am very happy [for Diego]. It’s one of the best pieces of news in the last weeks, because when you see a player has to be changed because of an injury and you see his concerns across his face and his bad emotions. It's definitely something that influences me because I have built a close relationship with the players and that's why I'm really happy that he's on a good recovery run and that he doesn't have a bad injury."

The head coach also has a decision to make in his team selection with Olivier Boscagli and Lewis Dunk available.

"This is quite a big decision, but that's part of my job," Fabian continued. "I need to make decisions and I have to make them through the whole season. That's why I'm quite relaxed because I see it as a positive thing, because I have two centre-backs available. They have performed well. Olivier had a good game against Chelsea. Lewis was always there through the season. So now I have to make the decision. I always make the decision on what's best for the club, what increases our percentage of winning the game. I'm sure that both will keep giving everything so that this club will be successful at the end of the season."

Their last line-up

UNITED 👊 pic.twitter.com/6wwwfIJMDg
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) April 25, 2026

Newcastle were narrowly beaten by league leaders Arsenal in their last outing. The Gunners scored the only goal of the game after nine minutes, courtesy of Eberechi Eze.

Match facts

Newcastle have won just two of their 17 Premier League games against Brighton (D8 L7), though both victories have come at home (2-1 in March 2022, 4-1 in May 2023).

Following their 2-1 win in October, Brighton are looking to complete their second Premier League double over Newcastle after 2020/21.

Newcastle have lost 16 Premier League games this season, with seven coming at St James’ Park. Both are their highest number of defeats in a campaign since 2020/21 (17 overall, 8 at home).

Newcastle have lost their last four league games, with a 1-0 loss at Arsenal following three consecutive 2-1 defeats. They last lost five in a row in January 2021, while only Wolves between May and August 2021 have ever had five successive one-goal defeats in the Premier League.

Brighton have won six of their last eight Premier League games (D1 L1), as many as in their previous 23 (D9 L8). They’ve scored at least twice in each of their last four, last doing so in five in a row in February/March 2025.

Newcastle have dropped a league-high 25 points from winning positions in the Premier League this season, their second most in a single campaign after 2004/05 (31). Meanwhile, the Magpies have won just three points from losing positions this term, the joint-fewest in the division.

Newcastle have conceded a league-high 19 goals in the final 15 minutes of games in the Premier League this season. The Magpies are also five points worse off thanks to goals in this timeframe (6 gained, 11 lost), more than any other side.

Nick Woltemade scored seven goals in his first 14 Premier League appearances for Newcastle, averaging a goal every 157 minutes with a shot conversion rate of 27%. He’s now failed to score in his last 16 appearances for the Magpies, though he’s played just 597 minutes and had just five shots in this run.

Brighton’s Danny Welbeck is enjoying his best ever goalscoring season in the Premier League with 13 goals. Only six players have scored more in a campaign while aged 34+, most recently Cristiano Ronaldo (18) and Jamie Vardy (15) in 2021/22.

Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh has attempted more take ons in both the opposition half (120) and opposition penalty area (32) than any other player in the Premier League this season.