Newcastle United

Mark Lawrenson takes on Elena Cole and Haydn Craven, stars of football drama Jamie Johnson, for the latest round of Premier League predictions.

Lawro's prediction: 2-1

Graeme Jones will be in charge of Newcastle following Steve Bruce's departure, and this is a free hit for him because he's not really in the running to take the job permanently.

Callum Wilson is back fit for Newcastle, and you saw the difference he makes to their attack with his early goal against Tottenham.

I'd be more worried about the Magpies at the other end, though, even if Wilfried Zaha is not well enough to play for Palace.

Palace have not quite managed to turn some good performances into wins yet under Patrick Vieira - Monday's draw with Arsenal was another example of that, because they should have won - but they are progressing nicely.

Elena's prediction: It's going to be interesting to see what Newcastle do in the January transfer window but until then they might struggle. 2-1

Haydn's prediction: It might be tight but I'm going with Newcastle. 1-2

Find out how Lawro, Elena and Haydn think the rest of this week's fixtures will go

Image source, Reuters

Interim Newcastle head coach Graeme Jones says he has been asked to take charge of two fixtures and has been given "assurances" over his role at the club.

Jones, who was assistant to the now departed Steve Bruce, says he will be in charge for Saturday's trip to Crystal Palace and the visit of Chelsea to St James' Park on 30 October.

The 51-year-old says he is "motivated more than anywhere I've been" by the chance to be involved with the club he supports.

"I know the culture of this club, whether I was there or not I was only interested in their results so I am focused on doing the best I can," said Jones.

"I believe in having your standards high. I know what elite looks like. And that's the direction the club's going to go in. I'm talking about everybody to be as good as we can be because only at that point will we be successful."

Jones says he has met with the club's hierarchy and got "assurances" over his own future. While the side currently sit 19th in the Premier League, he is aware of what the influx of money can do in the future.

He added: "It gives you a chance, because we all know that if you want to win leagues or FA Cups, you have to have best players and only money buys that.

"There is hope. If you go back to the Kevin Keegan era, with him coming in as a player and manager there was hope. That's what he transmitted and that's back and the long-term future of club looks rosy."

Crystal Palace have talisman Wilfried Zaha, who missed the trip to Arsenal because of illness, available again.

Eberechi Eze and Nathan Ferguson continue their rehabilitation from long-term injuries.

Newcastle interim head coach Graeme Jones said he has no new injuries to contend with but Martin Dubravka and Paul Dummett are not ready to return.

Jonjo Shelvey will serve a one-match ban following his red card against Tottenham last weekend.

Who makes your Palace team this weekend?

Pick and share your Newcastle XI here

Matthew Raisbeck, BBC Radio Newcastle

Newcastle United’s interim head coach Graeme Jones has been talking to the media before his side face Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Here are the key lines:

• Jones says the new owners have told him he will be in charge of the team for the next two matches, which are against Crystal Palace and Chelsea;

• He has also “had assurances” about his long-term future at the club;

• He described former boss Steve Bruce as a “great person and an incredible football man” and says they spoke to each other on Wednesday night, a few hours after Bruce left the club;

• Jones, 51, is a Newcastle supporter. He says he has a “huge emotional and personal involvement” and he “knows the culture of this football club”;

• There are no new injuries but Martin Dubravka and Paul Dummett are not ready to return. Jonjo Shelvey is suspended for the trip to Selhurst Park.

Read more from Jones and follow all the Premier League build-up

With Newcastle in talks with Paulo Fonseca over the possibility of succeeding Steve Bruce in the Magpies dugout, we asked for your thoughts on the former Roma manager's potential arrival.

Here are some of your views:

Jamie, Canning Town: Newcastle have to be sensible. They're not going to fly straight to the top of the table immediately. They have to take it in steps. Get into the top half first! Then get into Europe, then challenge for the title. Fonseca I think is a good first step. Then buy players that can challenge for Europe and keep upgrading from there.

ChrisRabbitohs: I really don't see how Fonseca is a safe or solid first step for Newcastle. He had zero experience in the PL and did well at Shakhtar but who wouldn't, and did okay at Roma. Seems like a risk for a relegation fight!

Michael Smith: Fonseca seems like a solid step one, up here we know it's not going to happen overnight, training ground etc needs sorting before we go in for really big players - this is about the foundations and setting the style & avoiding relegation.

Mike, Edinburgh: Fonseca is not the choice that Newcastle fans expected. Nothing on his CV to suggest greatness so I’ll give him 18 months.

Join in the debate and find out the latest from Friday's Premier League news conferences on our football live page

Newcastle interim boss Graeme Jones is due to speak to the media at around 14:00 BST on Friday.

Catch up with all the key lines from his news conference on this page later.

Follow Friday’s news conferences and all the Premier League build-up

Newcastle United are interested in Porto and Colombia winger Luis Diaz, 24, and are preparing an offer to meet his release clause of 80m euros (£67.4m). (Sport TV, via Marca), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace host Newcastle United in the Premier League this weekend - but what happened when the two teams last met in the top flight?

Palace recorded back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time in five months as they came from behind to defeat Newcastle 2-1 at St James' Park in February.

Roy Hodgson's side turned the match around in a four-minute spell courtesy of Jairo Riedewald's deflected strike from 20 yards and Gary Cahill's header.

Jonjo Shelvey's second-minute strike had put the Magpies ahead but Steve Bruce's hosts were unable to build on their early advantage.

• Newcastle have failed to win any of their first eight Premier League matches of a season for a third time, finally winning their ninth game in 2015-16 and their 11th in 2018-19. The Magpies were relegated at the end of that 2015-16 season.

• Crystal Palace have drawn five of their eight Premier League games this season, including each of the last three. It is the most draws a team has had at this stage of a Premier League campaign since 2014-15, when both Arsenal and Sunderland had five draws in their first eight matches.

• Newcastle have lost more Premier League away games in London than any other side in the competition (81). However, the Magpies have won six of their last 12 top-flight visits to the capital (drawn one, lost five).

Mikel Arteta says the way football managers are treated "has to change" after Steve Bruce admitted he struggled to cope with the abuse he received during his time as Newcastle manager.

Bruce, who was sacked by the Magpies on Wednesday, says the experience had "taken its toll" on his whole family and he may not return to football management as a result.

“I was really sad after reading that statement from Steve," said Arsenal boss Arteta.

"You’re talking about someone that’s been in the game over 40 years that has managed over 1000 games and he’s telling you with that experience that he struggled with that kind of abuse. So I think we have to accept (that it's a problem).

"We can’t take for granted that things are the way they are. No, we are here to improve them and change them.

“I think we have to think about it when one of the most experienced managers in English history is telling you something. For me, it’s a very serious statement and we have to change that."

• Crystal Palace have won three of their past five Premier League matches against Newcastle (two defeats), more than they had in their first 15 games against them in the competition (two wins, five draws, eight defeats).

• Newcastle have won just one of their past six away Premier League games against Palace (three draws, two defeats), though it was in this exact fixture last season (2-0 to the Magpies).

• The Eagles are looking to go unbeaten in their opening five home league matches of a season for the first time since 1996-97, when they were in the second tier, having last achieved the feat in the top flight back in 1990-91.

Barcelona forward Ousmane Dembele is open to a move to Newcastle United when his contract runs out at the end of the season. The France international, 24, joined the Catalan club in a £117m deal in 2017. (Goal), external

Newcastle held an interview with former Roma manager Paulo Fonseca over Zoom on Wednesday as the 48-year-old Portuguese emerges as a leading candidate to replace Steve Bruce. (Daily Mail), external

Fonseca was first approached by representatives of Newcastle's new owners in the summer and they have now reopened talks with him. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

The Magpies' new owners have not made a final decision, though, with Belgium boss Roberto Martinez, former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, ex-Borussia Dortmund coach Lucien Favre, Rangers' Steven Gerrard and ex-Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe still being considered. (Guardian), external

Meanwhile, Newcastle are interested in signing 24-year-old England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin from Everton. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

So, Steve Bruce has left Newcastle United and now we want to know who you think will succeed him.

We've put 12 names in the frame - though, of course, you might think it will be someone else entirely.

Vote now!