League One promotion contenders Sheffield Wednesday have a genuine opportunity to cause an FA Cup upset when they host a Premier League-focused Newcastle on Saturday evening.
The Steel City side are making a real fist of securing a return to the Championship under boss Darren Moore, winning three games on the bounce to usurp a strong Ipswich Town side and take the second automatic promotion place.
The Owls have not lost a third-round clash since their defeat to Middlesbrough in 2017 and can take inspiration from their division three counterparts Cambridge, who recorded a famous win over the Magpies at this stage in 2022.
And with Newcastle exceeding the expectations of all but the most optimistic of supporters to reach third in the Premier League, manager Eddie Howe is faced with a prioritisation conundrum.
Wednesday could well take advantage of their visitors’ cramped fixture schedule as the North East outfit look to avoid jeopardising their league tilt.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Newcastle Betting Tips
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Barry Bannan missed the league match against Cambridge at the weekend and head coach Moore will again be without the former Aston Villa midfielder, though Dominic Iorfa and Lee Gregory could be available for a return after completing a week of full training.
For Newcastle, club-record signing Alexander Isak could be in line to feature for the first time since mid-September.
The Sweden international hit two goals in his first three games for the club after joining from Real Sociedad – the trip to South Yorkshire could see him end a long spell on the sidelines.
Sheffield Wednesday Or Draw @ 13/8
Though a draw against third-tier opposition seems a good tie on paper for Newcastle, the reality is that Hillsborough has proved something of a fortress this term.
Wednesday’s last 11 home matches in all competitions have seen them rack up nine wins and two draws – they have lost just one league game on home turf this season.
What’s more, they turned Cambridge United over on Monday to the tune of five unanswered goals and could use that hot run of form to full effect against a Newcastle side swamped with games.
The Magpies earned a respectable point against Premier League leaders Arsenal on Tuesday, but with the League Cup quarter-final against Leicester coming up just a week later, the FA Cup could hardly have fallen at a more opportune time for the Steel City side.
Even with the return of Isak, Newcastle’s squad is set to be thinly spread and with the Premier League surely of greater importance, a shock result could well be in the offing this Saturday.
Josh Windass To Score Anytime @ 7/2
Former Rangers and Wigan man Josh Windass was on fire against Cambridge, hitting a hat-trick in the rout.
The 28-year-old played just five minutes of Wednesday’s two previous games against Fleetwood and Port Vale but his exploits on Monday make it almost inconceivable that Moore would opt to leave him on the bench against elite opposition.
Windass has proven already that he can find the net against top-flight teams, scoring in the League Cup encounter with Southampton before the Owls fell on penalties.
With the prospect of securing a return to the first 11 surely in his own hands, the frontman will have a point to prove against the Magpies and will be doing his utmost to continue where he left off on Monday.
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