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Match preview
What an opportunity this is for both clubs to reach a major cup final at Wembley, so who will seize the opportunity in this first leg?
Newcastle haven’t featured in any major final since 1999, last claiming silverware in 1969, beating Újpest in that year’s Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
So far in this competition, Eddie Howe’s team have overcome Tranmere, Crystal Palace on penalties, Bournemouth and then Leicester.
Dan Burn and Joelinton the scorers a fortnight ago, ending the Magpies’ 17 year wait for a semi-final.
The Toon Army come into this two-legged affair as favourites, given that their side sit third in the Premier League.
Newcastle are unbeaten in 15 league games, although three of the last four have ended goalless, most-recently Saturday’s uneventful trip to Selhurst Park.
The Saints have now lost seven of their last eight league matches, that win at Goodison very much the anomaly.
In stark contrast, Nathan Jones has won all three cup matches since arriving on the South Coast, including ousting Lincoln City and Manchester City from this competition.
In the quarter-finals, Sékou Mara and Moussa Djenepo were on target as they beat the Carabao Cup kings in a major shock.
With a daunting second leg to come at St James’ next Tuesday, one feels Southampton must win this home tie to have any chance of getting through.
Will there be a victor at St Mary’s?
Southampton team news
With an FA Cup tie against Blackpool in-between these two legs, Nathan Jones will name his strongest XI in this tie.
He is still without Armel Bella-Kotchap and Stuart Armstrong, both of whom are injured.
January signing Mislav Oršić enjoyed a six minute cameo on Saturday, so will be hoping to feature more prominently here.
Sékou Mara and Moussa Djenepo got the goals in the shock quarter-final victory, but both were only on the bench at the weekend.
Southampton lost 4-1 at home to Newcastle in November in, what turned out to be, Ralph Hasenhüttl’s final game in charge, certainly hoping for an improvement here.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Bazunu; Lyanco, Ćaleta-Car, Salisu, Walker-Peters; Lavia, Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Edozie, Aribo; Adams.
Newcastle United team news
Bruno Guimarães hobbled off in tears against Fulham, leading to many suggesting he could be out for weeks, perhaps even months.
On the contrary, the Brazilian midfielder made a miraculous recovery, starting and completing 90+ minute at Selhurst Park six days later.
He could be part of an unchanged XI here, given that Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff and Miguel Almirón have started in every single league game so far.
With his side out of the FA Cup, Eddie Howe’s team can be solely focussed on progressing through this tie.
One player seeking to break into the XI is Alexander Isak who, despite injury, has scored three in five Premier League appearances so far.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schär, Botman, Burn; Guimarães, Willock, S Longstaff; Almirón, Joelinton, Wilson.
Southampton vs Newcastle United: Head to head statistics
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