Southampton (a) SOLD OUT
Wolves / Bournemouth (h) fwding/resale now
Fulham (h) Member sale Mon 13.01 @ Noon
Arsenal (h) ST/Member sale Mon 13.01 @ Noon
Man City (a) ST sale now, 60 pts

FAC3:
Bromley (h)

The Magpies kick off their FA Cup participation with a Third Round home tie against League Two Bromley. 

It's a 3pm kick-off on Sunday.

This will be a first-ever meeting of the two clubs, with the Ravens promoted to the Football League for the first time via the National League playoffs in May.

The visitors were allocated 4,900 tickets but didn't sell that many, with unsold blocks made available to home fans on Wednesday and quickly selling out.

Managed by ex-Magpie coach Andy Woodman, they reached the Third Round for the first time ever thanks to a 4-3 First Round win at Rochdale that was followed by a 2-1 Second Round success at Solihull Moors.

The draw ends a run of five successive away ties for United, whose last FA Cup tie at SJP was the 0-1 loss to Cambridge United in January 2022 - the only time Eddie Howe oversaw a home tie in the competition previously.

The winners will take their place in the Fourth Round draw, live on BBC1 after the Arsenal versus Manchester United tie on Sunday. That is a 3pm kick-off.

With no replays, ties are settled via extra time if drawn at 90 minutes and penalties if drawn at 120 minutes.

Team: Fabian Schar and Bruno Guimaraes will both be available following suspension, while Emil Krafth is expected to play some part after recovering from a broken collarbone.

Nick Pope, Jamaal Lascelles and Callum Wilson remain sidelined while Sven Botman and Alexander Isak will be rested for the tie. 

Coral rate this tie as follows:

NUFC win 1/7
The draw 15/2
BFC win 16/1

New customers receive a £40 bet when staking £10 (T's & C's apply). Find those markets online here 

BFC: The Ravens have completed the signing of striker Nicke Kabamba from Barnet but he isn't eligible to face Newcastle on Sunday.

A 1-4 loss at Crewe last Sunday was Bromley's first League Two defeat in 13 games, finishing with 10 men following the late dismissal of Kamarl Grant.

The 21 year-old defender has earned praise while on loan from Millwall will be suspended at SJP. 

Top scorer this season with 13 in all competitions is Michael Cheek, who has over a century of strikes to his name since arriving from Ebbsfleet United in 2018.

The 33 year-old forward made his Football League debut last August and scored Bromley's first-ever EFL goal.

Marcus Dinanga was on target against Newcastle during a pre-season game in 2023 while at Gateshead. Fellow striker Olufela Olomola meanwhile played once for Newcastle U18s as a trialist back in 2014.

Forward Levi Amantchi also has links to the region, spending time at Wallsend Boys Club and playing for non-league sides including Blyth Spartans. He's also reported to have had trials at Newcastle's Academy.

Defender Carl Jenkinson has previously appeared at Gallowgate in the colours of Arsenal and West Ham - wisely getting out of the way as Jonas Gutierrez memorably fired home against the latter in 2015. 

Referee: Will Finnie - Bedfordshire-based official who has been taking charge of EFL games since 2019 and made his Championship bow last April.

The only previous game he's refereed that we can find involving United featuring was a PL2 game against Southampton that finished 1-1 back in 2019.

VAR: n/a

UK TV: Live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Red Button*

* Also available on Freesat (Ch980), Freeview (Ch601), Sky (Ch970) and Virgin Media (Ch990).

The tie will be shown live at WonderBar in The Gate. 

City centre bars with live TV coverage include:

The Dog & Parrot on Clayton Street West
The Prince on Pudding Chare

Overseas TV: 
Amazon Prime Video (Mexico)
Arena 2 Premium (Macedonia/Serbia)
Arena Sport 3 (Bosnia/Slovenia)
Arena Sport 8 (Croatia)
Astro Go/Grandstand (Malaysia)
beIN Sports Connect
beIN Sports 3 Thailand
Claro TV+
Cosmote Sport 6 HD (Greece)
Cytavision Sports 6/on the Go (Cyprus)
Disney+ Arg/Bra/Chi/Sur
DStv Now
ESPN+ (USA)
ESPN2 Brazil
Fox Sports Video (Mexico)
FPT Play (Vietnam)
Go3 Extra Sports Estonia/Latvia/Lithuania
Jio TV (India)
MAXtv To Go (Croatia)
Migu (China)
Moja TV (Bosnia)
Nova Sport Bulgaria
Optus Sport (Australia)
Sky Sport 5 New Zealand
Sky+ (Brazil)
SONY LIV/SONY TEN 5 (India)
sooka (Malaysia)
Sport 2 Israel
Sport TV4 (Portugal)
Sportsnet Now Plus (Canada)
SuperSport GOtv Football (South Africa)
SuperSport MaXimo 1 (South Africa)
SuperSport Variety 3 (South Africa)
SuperSport 4 Digitalb (Albania)
TSN6/GO TV Anywhere Malta
tvWAN Sports (Fiji)
TV 2 Play (Norway)
Viaplay Den/Fin/Ice/Ned/Nor/Swe
Vidio (Indonesia)
Vivo Play (Brazil)
V Sport 1 Finland
Zapping (Brazil)

UK Radio: Live on BBC Radio 5 Live Sport

Local Radio: Live on BBC Radio Newcastle

Hospital Radio: Radio Tyneside commentary is accessible free of charge in local hospitals via Spark Media.

Buses: The Go North East X50 football service from the Metro Centre will be in operation. Details here

Metro: No scheduled alterations as yet.

Rail: Scheduled alterations are online here

Roads: The Tyne Bridge refurbishment programme is underway, with one lane in each direction closed at all times until further notice. That will lead to inevitable congestion and delays, especially with the ongoing closure of the A167 Gateshead Highway flyover.

More details here

Temporary road closures around SJP apply from an hour before kick-off until 30 minutes after the final whistle.

Food Bank: The usual stall and bucket shakers will be on and around Strawberry Place, with NUFC Director Jamie Reuben again matching all matchday donations.

Third Round results/fixtures:

Thu 09.01.2025:
Sheffield United 0-1 Cardiff City
Everton 2-0 Peterborough United
Fulham 4-1 Watford

Fri 10.01.2025:
Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 Portsmouth
Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham

Sat 11.01.2025:
Birmingham City 2-1 Lincoln City
Bristol City 1-2 Wolves
smoggies 0-1 Blackburn Rovers
Liverpool 4-0 Accrington Stanley
Leicester City 6-2 QPR
Bournemouth 5-1 West Bromwich Albion
Brentford 0-1 Plymouth Argyle
Chelsea 5-0 Morecambe
Exeter City 3-1 Oxford United
Norwich City 0-4 Brighton & Hove Albion
Nottingham Forest 2-0 Luton Town
Reading 1-3 Burnley (aet)
mackems 1-2 Stoke City (aet)
Manchester City 8-0 Salford
Leeds United 1-0 Harrogate Town
Coventry City 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday (4-3pens)

Sun 12.01.2025:
Hull City v Doncaster Rovers (Noon)
Tamworth v Spurs (12.30pm) ITV1
Arsenal v Manchester United (3pm) BBC1
Crystal Palace v Stockport County (3pm)
Ipswich Town v Bristol Rovers (3pm)
Newcastle United v Bromley (3pm) BBC iPlayer
Southampton v Swansea City (4.30pm) BBC Wales

Mon 13.01.2025:
Millwall v Dagenham & Redbridge (7.30pm) ITV4

Tue 14.01.2025:
Leyton Orient v Derby County (7.45pm)
Mansfield Town v Wigan Athletic (7.45pm)
Preston North End v Charlton Athletic (7.45pm)

Stats: 

NUFC last 10 FAC3 ties:

2023/24 mackems (a) R3 won 3-0
2022/23 Sheffield Wednesday (a) R3 lost 1-2
2021/22 Cambridge United (h) R3 lost 0-1
2020/21 Arsenal (a) R3 lost 0-2aet
2019/20 Rochdale (h) R3R won 4-1
2019/20 Rochdale (a) R3 drew 1-1
2018/19 Blackburn Rovers (a) R3R won 4-2
2018/19 Blackburn Rovers (h) R3 drew 1-1
2017/18 Luton Town (h) R3 won 3-1
2016/17 Birmingham City (h) R3R won 3-1
2016/17 Birmingham City (a) R3 drew 1-1
2015/16 Watford (a) R3 lost 0-1
2014/15 Leicester City (a) R3 lost 0-1

Compo:
Hat giveaway
 

Inspired by United's perennially popular 1995/96 home shirt (now re-released by adidas) the Tino bobble hat is available here from Tyneside-based Football Bobbles. 

We have one up for grabs in a free-to-enter competition and to be in with a chance of winning it, simply predict the final score in Newcastle's Premier League home meeting with Wolves on Wednesday.

Email [email protected] with your answer by Noon on Wednesday January 15th, subject line of Hat. 

No age limit, open to anyone on the planet but delivery can only be made to a UK address. One entry each please. In the event of a tie, one winner will be randomly drawn from all correct entries received.

Update:
Moves

Newcastle midfielder Isaac Hayden has completed a loan move to Championship side Portsmouth for the remainder of the season, joining former Gallowgate colleague Matt Ritchie at Fratton Park.

Hayden remains under contract at SJP until 2026.

Meanwhile former Magpie Paul Dummett has a new club following the conclusion of his short-term deal at League One side Wigan Athletic.

The 33 year-old has joined League Two Carlisle United, who are currently managed by ex-SJP colleague Mike Williamson.

Other transfers this month include the following:

Kyle Cameron loaned from Notts County to Barrow
Ryan Donaldson left Blyth Spartans, joined Ashington
Lewis Gibson Plymouth Argyle to Preston North End

Others:

Former trialist Cedwyn Scott has made a permanent switch from Notts County to Carlisle United.

SJP old boy Patrick Kluivert has agreed to become the new coach of the Indonesian national team.

Carabao Cup:
Geordie pride

Arsenal  0  Newcastle  2

Match report

2024/25:
U18s/U21s postponed

Newcastle's scheduled PL2 fixture against Boro on Friday evening was postponed due to an unplayable pitch at the Heritage Park home of Bishop Auckland.

That game will now go ahead at the same venue on Friday March 7th, with a 7pm kick-off.

And the club's U18 side weren't in competitive action on Saturday, with their league visit to Stoke City now rescheduled for Saturday April 5th (1.30pm).

The young Magpies are next in action at home to Aston Villa in the FA Youth Cup Fourth Round on Thursday.

That will be played at Whitley Park with a 7pm start.

From previous experience the tie will be an "all pay" affair, with admission £3 adults and £1 concessions payable only in cash at the turnstiles.

The NUFC official app listing shows that a free live stream for this tie will be available.

PS: The winners of the tie will be at home to either Cardiff City or Bristol City in Round Five.

Update:
Another Isak brace

A glittering December that saw him score eight goals and provide two assists in six Premier League games saw Alexander Isak voted the PL Player of the Month.

And the Newcastle striker also collected December's PL Goal of the Month accolade for his magnificent opener at home to Liverpool.

Isak becomes the eighth different Magpie to lift the player award and it's the twelfth time that the title has ended up at SJP:

Sep 1994 Rob Lee
Aug 1995 David Ginola
Nov 1995 Rob Lee
Sep 1998 Alan Shearer
Dec 2002 Alan Shearer
Oct 2003 Alan Shearer
Dec 2011 Demba Ba
Nov 2013 Tim Krul
May 2021 Joe Willock
Oct 2022 Miguel Almiron
Dec 2024 Alexander Isak

The Swede becomes only the second Newcastle player to complete a monthly player and goal double, following on from Miguel Almiron in October 2022.*

Feb 2019 Fabian Schar v Burnley (h)
Oct 2019 Matty Longstaff v Manchester United (h)
Apr 2022 Miguel Almiron v Crystal Palace (h)
Aug 2022 Allan Saint-Maximin v Wolves (h)
Oct 2022 Miguel Almiron v Fulham (a)
Dec 2024 Alexander Isak v Lliverpool (h)

* while the player award dates back to 1994, the goal accolade was only established in 2016 - hence the lack of Alan Shearer (and others) in the latter list. 

Update:
Goalkeeper situation
still unresolved

Despite post-match gestures at Arsenal widely assumed to be his farewell to the fans, Martin Dubravka remains a Newcastle player and speculation of joining a Saudi Arabian club this month remains unconfirmed. 

Speaking to the media on Friday, Eddie Howe said of Dubravka that:

"I think he has been in a difficult position with his contract being up in the summer. There is that doubt and he will naturally want some conclusion to his future.

"Whatever the outcome, he has more than played his part in our recent run of fixtures. Hopefully, we can come to some sort of agreement with him.

"Martin has never said he wants to leave. He has been a very good professional and it's a credit to him because it was difficult when Nick Pope was in the team, but he was ready to come in and perform.

"That's down to how hard he trains and you can see how much Newcastle means to him. He is very invested.

"I think the right decision will be the right decision - not just for us but for Martin as well.

"Martin is performing really well and we want to keep him. He's never said he wants to leave and hopefully we can resolve things."

Loan lads:
Temps 

Magpie loan watch:

Harrison Ashby (QPR)
The full back kept his place in the R's side that lost 2-6 at Leicester City in the FA Cup on Saturday, completing the entire tie.

Joe White (MK Dons)
Saturday's League Two visit to Carlisle United was called off due to a frozen Brunton Park pitch.

Jamie Miley (Newport County)
Saturday's League Two visit to Accrington Stanley didn't go ahead as the hosts were in FA Cup action away at Liverpool.

Miodrag Pivas (Willem II)
Twente (a) Eredivisie, Sunday.

Max Thompson (Chesterfield)
Rotherham United (h) EFL Trophy, Tuesday.

Isaac Hayden (Portsmouth)
Blackburn Rovers (a) Championship, Wednesday.

Jamal Lewis had his loan to Brazilians Sao Paulo terminated due to injury and he's back in England for an unspecified period of rehabilitation.

2024/25:
Tunnel tussle - 
FA charges

The FA confirm that both Newcastle and Aston Villa have landed disciplinary charges arising from an incident in the SJP player's tunnel at half time on Boxing Day.

Both clubs were charged with failing to control their players and/or technical area occupants, with further charges of acting in an improper manner levelled at  Jason Tindall and Villa analyst Victor Manas. 

The clubs have until next Monday to respond.

Unlikely lads:
'Keeper comeback

Just over six months after his time at Gallowgate came to an end, goalkeeper Loris Karius has found a new club, agreeing to join Bundesliga.2 club Schalke 04.

The German-born 31 year-old was pictured arriving for his medical on Friday ahead of an initial six month contract with the Gelsenkirchen club.

Carabao Cup:
Spurs sneak ahead

Wednesday saw the second of this season's Carabao Cup semi-finals take place, Spurs holding a one goal advantage over Liverpool after the first leg in N17.

Semi-finals: 

Tue 07.01.2025 Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
Wed 08.01.2025 Spurs 1-0 Liverpool

Wed 05.02.2025 Newcastle v Arsenal (8pm) Sky
Thu 06.02.2025 Liverpool v Spurs (8pm) Sky/ITV1

2024/25:
Seven up for Alex

Spurs  1  Newcastle  2

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