Newcastle will look to get their Premier League season on the right track when they return to action against Brentford this weekend.

The Magpies came into the new campaign full of optimism after qualifying for the Champions League but have lost three on the bounce.

Eddie Howe’s side began the season with a thumping 5-1 win over Aston Villa, but have since suffered three consecutive defeats.

Newcastle have slipped to 14th in the table after falling to European rivals Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton before the break.

The Tynesiders now have the ideal chance to stop the rot on home turf, with Brentford winning just one of their four matches as well.

But Thomas Frank’s side are unbeaten so far this season, having drawn their other three games to move to eighth in the table.

Newcastle vs Brentford: How to follow

This Premier League clash will take place on Saturday, September 16.

Kick-off at St James’ Park is scheduled for 5:30pm.

The match is set to be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with their coverage beginning at 5pm.

Sky Go customers will be able to stream the match through their laptops or mobile devices.

Alternatively, fans can purchase a one-day NOW TV membership for £11.99 or a monthly one for £34.99 a month.

talkSPORT will have updates from Tyneside throughout the evening and talkSPORT.com will provide the best of the reaction as well.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Newcastle vs Brentford: Team news

The hosts have been dealt an injury hammer blow, with Sandro Tonali suffering a muscle problem on international duty for Italy.

Tonali has since undergone a scan on a thigh issue and remains a doubt.

The Toon are already without Joe Willock while Elliot Anderson suffered a knock during the break as well.

However, there’s more positive news on Sven Botman, who has trained after a recent ankle issue.

Brentford are still missing Ivan Toney so Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa will be tasked with leading the attack.

The Bees also have several injury concerns, with Josh Dasilva and Shandon Baptiste sidelined.

But Brentford head coach Frank has confirmed that both Neal Maupay and Mikkel Damsgaard could feature.

Newcastle vs Brentford: What has been said?

Newcastle boss Howe on whether he needs to freshen up his midfield: “If you’d looked at the midfield after the [Aston] Villa game, you’d say there’s no time needed [for them to gel]. It was a thing of beauty really.

“Fast forward a few weeks later and people have a different opinion. I don’t fall into that trap.

“There will be an adapting period for Sandro [Tonali], like there was for Bruno [Guimaraes]. It’s a natural process.”

Newcastle vs Brentford: Match facts

• Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo has scored seven goals in his last seven games in the Premier League, as many as he scored in his previous 55 appearances in the competition. Only Taiwo Awoniyi (9) and Erling Haaland (8) have scored more goals than the Cameroon international (7) since the start of May.
• Newcastle United’s Callum Wilson has scored 81 goals in the Premier League, the ninth most of any player since his first season in the competition with Bournemouth in 2015-16, and the fourth most of any Englishman during this period after Harry Kane (189), Jamie Vardy (131) and Raheem Sterling (99).
• Brentford have won their last two away games in the Premier League, against Tottenham and Fulham, and could win three in a row on the road for the first time in the top-flight.
• Brentford have played the third most progressive passes of any side in the Premier League this season (136), behind Brighton (159) and Chelsea (153). Of their 1,858 passes this campaign, 7.3% have been considered progressive, the largest share for any side.
• Although they remain unbeaten (W1 D3), Brentford have dropped the most points from winning positions of any side in the Premier League this season (6), drawing against Tottenham, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth, despite leading in each game.
• After keeping a clean sheet in six consecutive matches in the Premier League between November 2022 and January 2023, Newcastle have since kept just two clean sheets from 22 matches. Among the 17 sides who have participated in each of the last two Premier League campaigns, Newcastle have kept the fewest clean sheets since the start of February (2).
• Brentford have only been beaten once across their last 11 games in the Premier League (W6 D4), a 1-0 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield in May of last season. The Bees have the second largest positive differential between expected goals for and against in the Premier League this season (+5.4) after Manchester City (+6.2).
• Newcastle have lost each of their last three league matches, doing so for the first time since March-April 2022; they have lost more games this season (3) than they did in their final 14 league matches last season (W9 D3 L2). The Magpies haven’t lost four consecutive league games since January 2021 under Steve Bruce (5).
• Since winning their first away league game against Newcastle 5-2 in September 1934, Brentford are winless in their last five visits to the Magpies (D1 L4).
• Newcastle have won seven of their last eight league games against Brentford (D1) in a run stretching back to 1992. The Magpies have netted 24 goals in these eight fixtures.