Joelinton and González back as Jaissle’s Newcastle head to Coventry
Sunday 11 October 2026 · By Mark Shaw
Newcastle United dropped two places over the weekend without kicking a ball. Monday night at Coventry is the chance to win them back.
Matthias Jaissle’s side play the final game of Matchweek 6 at the Coventry Building Society Arena on 12 October (20:00, Sky Sports). They are 11th on eight points from five outings, and a nine-nine goal tally underline a team that has been entertaining but not always secure.
The squad looks healthier. Preview sites expect Nico González, Joelinton, Dedić and Osula to return. Tino Livramento and Jaouen are expected to miss out, while Dan Burn, Ramsey, Anthony Elanga and Lewis Miley are doubts. Those lists come from previews rather than the club, so Jaissle’s briefing will provide the final word.
Joelinton’s return matters more than usual. Bruno Guimarães, who left for Arsenal for a reported £75m, scored the winner for his new club against Leeds on Saturday. Newcastle’s midfield is still adjusting to life without him, and a fit Joelinton offers both energy and experience.
Coventry should not be underestimated, even though the numbers suggest Newcastle are favourites. Lampard’s side are 19th, with a single goal to their name, and are without suspended striker Taiwo Awoniyi. They also beat Nottingham Forest away in September and will be roused by a home crowd on a Monday night.
Games like this are where points are dropped. Newcastle will need to control the tempo early and avoid the kind of defensive lapses that have cost them goals this season.
After Coventry, a demanding run begins. Aston Villa visit St James’ Park on Saturday 17 October (17:30). Unai Emery’s side are still searching for a first home league win but carry European experience. Newcastle travel to Crystal Palace on 25 October. Pierre Sage’s side beat Nottingham Forest 3–1 on Sunday. Everton come to Tyneside on Monday 2 November, still unbeaten.
Jaissle now has more options than he has had for weeks. If González, Joelinton, Dedić and Osula all return as previews expect, he can rotate without weakening the side, which matters with Villa arriving on Saturday. The doubts over Burn and the expected absence of Livramento leave questions in defence, though. The manager’s team selection on Monday will show how much he is willing to risk against a Coventry side who will have nothing to lose.
There are reasons for optimism. Players are returning, the squad is deeper than it was a month ago, and the gap to the top half is small.
There is also an incentive in the table. A win would take Newcastle to 11 points and into fourth, above Brentford, Everton and Chelsea, and give them momentum before Villa arrive.
A win at Coventry would lift Newcastle back above several of the sides who overtook them this weekend. It would also give Jaissle a platform before a fortnight that will define Newcastle’s autumn.
Plan of the ground, north at the top. The yellow frames are the goals: the north goal faces the Leazes Stand, the south goal faces the Gallowgate Stand. Red marks the usual visiting block.
St James' Park sits on a slope above the city centre, hemmed in by Barrack Road, Strawberry Place and the listed terrace on Leazes. Newcastle United have played here since 1892, and the ground still feels tucked into the streets rather than parked on a ring road. Capacity is a little over 52,000. For a visiting supporter the thing that matters first is where you will actually be sitting, because this is not a normal away end.
The pitch runs north to south. The Leazes Stand is the north end, directly behind the north goal. The Gallowgate Stand is the south end, directly behind the south goal, and it is the heart of the home support. Along the west touchline is the Milburn Stand, named after Jackie Milburn, the deep main stand with the executive levels and the highest seats in the ground. Along the east touchline is the East Stand, much lower and shallower, which is why the bowl looks lopsided from the away end. Listed buildings and the old cemetery stopped the east and south sides from rising with the rest of the stadium when it was rebuilt around 2000.
Visiting supporters are given the upper tier, Level 7, of the Leazes Stand, in behind that north goal. You do not get a pitchside block. Newcastle have a long-standing dispensation from the Premier League rule that asks for some away seats at pitch level, so the whole allocation is up in the gods. Turnstiles 89 to 94, on the Leazes side, open about 90 minutes before kick-off. From there it is roughly 140 steps and 14 landings. The view, once you arrive, is a long one down the length of the pitch, with the Gallowgate and the black-and-white Milburn opposite, and on a clear day the city beyond the roof. If stairs are a problem, ask a steward at the turnstiles for the lift; the accessible entrance is signed near turnstile 94. Wheelchair spaces for away fans are also on this Level 7 platform.
Get there on the Metro if you can. St James station is beside the ground, on the Yellow line, and is the least fuss on a matchday. Central Station is a walk of about 15 to 20 minutes through the centre, uphill towards Barrack Road, or one short Metro hop. The away ticket office is on the Leazes approach. Have the ticket on your phone and charged before you leave the pub: visiting seats are issued digitally. Contactless payment is the norm on the concourse, with cash only at a few kiosks.
Give yourself time for the climb and for the streets outside, which clog early. The Gallowgate and the lower Leazes will be loud from well before kick-off, and the safe-standing corner where those two stands meet is part of the home noise rather than somewhere to drift into. Stay in the Level 7 away section, follow the stewarding on the landings, and you are in the right place: high above the north goal, looking the length of the pitch toward the Gallowgate.