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Kevin de Bruyne has been out warming up. He came on in the second half against Huddersfield in the FA Cup last Sunday and helped himself to an assist.

How long before we see him back in the starting line up?

• Newcastle United have won just one of their past 32 Premier League games against Manchester City (D5 L26), beating them 2-1 at St James’ Park in January 2019.
• Newcastle beat Manchester City 1-0 at St James’ Park in the Carabao Cup earlier this season. They haven't beaten City twice in the same campaign since 1983-84.
• The Magpies have taken 24 points from 10 Premier League home games this season (W8 L2), with only Aston Villa (28 points) and Liverpool (26 points) winning more. They did lose their most recent home game against Nottingham Forest but have never suffered consecutive home defeats under manager Eddie Howe.
• Phil Foden has had a hand in seven goals in his past 10 Premier League appearances for Manchester City (four goals, three assists). Since Christmas, Foden has created the most chances in open play in the Premier League (nine).

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport

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Cole Palmer's first-half penalty gave Chelsea a narrow win over West London rivals Fulham at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.

Palmer's reverse pass set up Raheem Sterling, who was caught by Issa Diop inside the penalty area.

Palmer dispatched the spot-kick, sending Fulham keeper Bernd Leno the wrong way to net his ninth goal since joining the Blues in August.

Conor Gallagher almost added a late second when his sweetly struck effort using the outside of his boot cannoned off the far post.

Chelsea kept Fulham at arm's length and held on for their third consecutive victory to jump to eighth in the table.

The visitors stay in 13th and have lost four of their past five matches.

A staggered Premier League winter break means there's just two games today, with Chelsea playing Fulham in the early kick off. Here's how that one went...

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe says it is a "frustration" that the club are not able to spend more because of the Premier League's profit and sustainability regulations.

Former Newcastle defender Steve Howey debates the merits of selling some of their best players on The Football News Show and says losing the likes of Sven Botman or Bruno Guimaraes in order to afford new players could be a "lose-lose" situation.

Watch The Football News Show on BBC iPlayer

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Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has said selling players "is part of every club's DNA now" to ensure they stay within the limits of Financial Fair Play regulations.

On Thursday, the Magpies reported a loss in excess of £73m for the 2022-23 season, leading to speculation that players could be sold to fund future investment.

"Selling players is part of every football club's DNA now," Howe said. "It has to be with Financial Fair Play rules because we have to generate more income.

"To sign players, we may have to sell players. It doesn't necessarily mean 'star' players, whatever is meant by that term, but certainly selling players will be something this club will do now for the foreseeable future."

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Newcastle striker Callum Wilson speaking on this week's episode of The Footballer's Football Podcast: "A big game, a huge game.

"We have beaten them already, one of a few teams to do it this season.

"We will need the fans. We'll need the atmosphere. It's going to be a difficult game. It's a big ask.

"We have some players back. Over the next three or four weeks you'll probably see a different Newcastle in terms of freshness, probably the team of last season, with the high press and that."

Listen to this week's episode where Wilson and West Ham's Michail Antonio discuss Arsenal, Ivan Toney, injuries and more

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I've got a bit of confidence with calling this one, compared to the first two games this week.

Unfortunately for Newcastle, I think this is a bad time to be playing Manchester City. Pep Guardiola's side did all right in the first half of the season, but did not really get going by their standards.

Now they have got Kevin de Bruyne back - with a new hairstyle too - and I just wonder if we will see a different look about City for the rest of the season.

Newcastle have lost three in a row in the league but I think the most important game for them recently was their FA Cup win over Sunderland last week - there would have been a bit of heat on their manager Eddie Howe if they had lost to a Championship team and their local rivals.

We know how the Magpies play, and they will go for it, so I am expecting a few goals, I just think City will score most of them.

Prediction:1-3

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Manchester City have a daunting record against Newcastle.

In their Premier League history, City have won more games (30), scored more goals (98), and kept more clean sheets (22) against Newcastle than against any other opponent.

They have also scored in each of their past 30 Premier League games against the Magpies, the longest scoring streak one side has had against another in the competition's history.

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Newcastle go into this game having lost five of their past six league games, although they did knock Manchester City out of the Carabao Cup in September.

"They are the team to beat for obvious reasons," Magpies boss Eddie Howe said. "Their record in recent seasons has been incredible.

"In the past few seasons, they've been in a similar pattern where they've timed their run and in the second half of the season they've been very difficult to play against once they have that momentum and that target to go for.

"They've got the best manager in the world. Their style of play is very difficult to combat so we have a lot of different challenges this weekend, but I believe we can really compete in this game.

"We've prepared well so hopefully that reflects on what we do."

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Manchester City are going to have to make do without striker Erling Haaland for a bit longer with Pep Guardiola saying he is likely to be out until the end of January.

A foot injury has kept the 23-year-old out since the defeat by Aston Villa on 6 December, although few details have been given.

It had been hoped City's top scorer would return for the Club World Cup in December but the injury has still not healed.

"It's the bone. It needs time," Guardiola said.

"With every injury you can do whatever you want but it's a question of time."

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Eddie Howe makes one change to the Newcastle side that won 3-0 at local rivals Sunderland in the FA Cup third round last Saturday.

It's an enforced change with Joelinton set for at least six weeks on the sidelines with a thigh injury. He's replaced by Lewis Miley.

Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Longstaff, Guimaraes, Miley, Almiron, Isak, Gordon.

Subs: Karius, Gillespie, Dummett, Lascelles, Ritchie, Krafth, Hall, A Murphy, Parkinson.

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola makes six changes to the side that beat Championship Huddersfield 5-0 in the FA Cup on Sunday.

Ederson replaces Stefan Ortega in goal, while captain Kyle Walker replaces the injured Manuel Akanji at right-back and Nathan Ake comes in for Sergio Gomez.

In midfield Rodri returns, in place of Rico Lewis, while Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku replace Oscar Bobb and Jack Grealish on the wings.

Kevin de Bruyne continues his comeback from injury with a place on the bench.

Manchester City XI: Ederson, Walker, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodri, Kovacic, Bernardo, Foden, Doku, Alvarez.

Subs: Ortega, Phillips, Grealish, De Bruyne, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb, Susoho, Lewis.

Former Newcastle and Manchester City defender Steve Howey joins The Football News Show to look ahead to today's game between the two sides.

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Manchester City are bidding to win an unprecedented fourth successive English league title.

Asked whether he thought it was possible for his team to achieve it, City boss Pep Guardiola said: "Right now, yes. How many points left? 19 games? We are five points behind with a game in hand, so it is possible mathematically.

"It is difficult obviously, otherwise Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho or the big clubs that made a legacy and a dynasty in terms of results for a long time - it's quite similar to what we have done - they could not do it. That means it's so difficult.

"I will answer this question when we are six or seven games from the end of the season, then I will tell you. Realistic or unrealistic, I don't know, but it's far away."

Here's how things look at the top of the Premier League as Manchester City play their game in hand as they look to get within two points of leaders Liverpool.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are hanging on to a place in the top 10 despite their poor recent run.

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After a good weekend for both clubs in the FA Cup it is back to league matters and Newcastle face a daunting task against Manchester City.

Eddie Howe's side have lost five of their last six Premier League games, and have Joelinton added to their sizeable injury list.

Manchester City, meanwhile, have won three of their last four games in the top flight but did lose at Newcastle in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.

Will Newcastle stage a repeat of that cup win? Or will Pep Guardiola's side win again to increase the pressure on Premier League leaders Liverpool...

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