Sven Botman has been a welcome return from injury for Eddie Howe, his long term absence was heavily felt by Newcastle who struggled for defensive consistency without him, but have now only conceded 1 goal across their last 5 Premier League matches – underlining his importance to the Toon.

He’s committed 3 fouls across his 179 minutes of Premier League football this season (1.51 per 90). Although this is a small sample size, Botman has been adjusting to the speed of the Premier League again, which should see this increased average when compared to last season (0.59 per 90) last for a few more fixtures.

He’ll be up against an unconventional number 9 in Dango Ouattara who is averaging 0.65 fouls won per 90 across his 18 Premier League appearances this season. It’s also possible that Andoni Iraola opts for Antoine Semenyo through the middle up against a more physical centre back pairing than Bournemouth were faced with at Chelsea last time out. Semenyo is averaging 1.39 fouls won per 90 across his 20 Premier League appearances this season.

Alexander Isak is on a menacing run of form, which has seen the striker find the back of the net in each of his last 8 Premier League matches taking his tally to 15 for the season, far and away clear as Newcastle’s top scorer.

He’s won 9 fouls across his 19 Premier League appearances this season (0.52 per 90) which is not totally reflective of the issues he can cause opposition backlines. Isak has a great touch and hold up play but also drifts into the channels at times to offer another option for his team.

He’ll be up against a talented but inexperienced Bournemouth centre back pairing of Dean Hujsen and Ilias Zabaryni, one notable aspect of Bournemouth’s performance against Chelsea was how often they were given licence to hunt the ball back by pushing with the striker as he drops deep. The pair combine for 1.43 fouls committed per 90 in the Premier League this season.

Dan Burn has won 8 fouls across his 20 Premier League appearances this season (0.40 per 90), this isn’t particularly standout but in the context of this clash against Bournemouth we can expect this average to rise with Burn likely the target of the Bournemouth press.

No Premier League side has won the ball back in the opposition half this season more than Bournemouth, this statistic outlines their approach quite well – Bournemouth will commit bodies to a man for man press with the intention of setting traps for the opposition to limit their space in build up.

Burn is likely to be the target of this aggressive press as the weakest in the Newcastle backline. Bournemouth have committed more fouls than any other team in the Premier League this season (13.4 per game) and committed 16 against Chelsea last time out which included fouling both centre backs in Acheampong and Colwill at least once.

Norgaard has committed 24 fouls across his 18 Premier League appearances this season (1.46 per 90). This record includes a foul in each of his last 5 Premier League appearances. He’ll be in for a tough challenge against one of the most efficient midfield set ups in the Premier League.

Norgaard committed 3 fouls and collected a yellow card in Brentford’s 2-0 loss at Anfield earlier in the season. The central midfielder contested 10 duels giving us a good indication of the type of defensive load he will have to manage here.

He’s expected to line up against Curtis Jones who has won 16 fouls across his 17 Premier League appearances this season, 10 of these have been starts taking his average to 1.63 fouls won per 90.

Emerson has committed 17 fouls across his 19 Premier League appearances this season (1.06 per 90). The left back is likely to have the most difficult task of the Hammers backline in this all London clash with Palace focusing the majority of attacks down his side.

Oliver Glasner lines up his team with wingbacks, Mitchell and Munoz, Munoz is moulded quite well in this role with the ability to push high up the pitch evidenced by his shot record this season (1.10 per 90) whilst Mitchell is more defensively minded. This naturally sees Palace get a lot of their attacking joy down Munoz’s side.

Emerson could find himself with 2 men to track with Ismaila Sarr also operating down his side of the pitch. Munoz and Sarr combine for 2.56 fouls won per 90 in the Premier League this season. Emerson contested 10 duels and committed 1 foul in West Ham’s 2-0 win at Selhurst Park earlier in the campaign.