Ruud van Nistelrooy said his first week at Leicester City was 'hectic' but insisted a more measured approach will be taken in the future to ensure the Foxes' survival in the Premier League.
Van Nistelrooy was confirmed as Steve Cooper's successor earlier this month and has had a fine start to his Foxes spell, with a win over West Ham and a late point against Brighton last time out.
But next up for the Dutchman is his first away game in the English top-flight as manager against Newcastle United, and despite his promising start he has not yet looked at the table at this early stage.
“It was a hectic week,” said Van Nistelrooy. “New ideas, played two matches, training in preparation.
“Huge congratulations to everyone at Leicester for welcoming me, for helping in any way possible and for connecting the players together in the new set-up. It's been a great week.”
“I don't think we need to look at the table and how many points. It's good that we get four points ourselves and that is the focus. We get the four points and the players have put in great performances as a team and as individuals.” .
“That's the goal for the future, and we're going to approach every game that way.”
Passion for the game pic.twitter.com/jbKHnmEjC6
— Leicester City (@LCFC) December 9, 2024
Newcastle, meanwhile, were defeated by Brentford last Saturday as their inconsistent season continued with another tepid performance on the road.
Going into this weekend's match, the Magpies have lost three of their last six away games in the Premier League (W1 D2), while they are winless in four games in all competitions (D2 L2).
Only in January 2022 (six games) and March 2023 (five games) have they suffered longer runs under Eddie Howe, with the Newcastle boss highlighting his side's poor play in defense against the Bees as crucial to the defeat.
“We're disappointed with the way we conceded goals. It's not individual mistakes, there are two or three actions I'm not happy with for every goal. We have to do better in those situations,” Howe said.
“We controlled the game in the first half but after the third goal it disappeared from us. We looked like a good attacking unit but we have to put everything together and that has led to inconsistent results.
Newcastle are now without a win in their last four Premier League games, dropping the team to 12th in the table, with Howe unable to put his finger on his side's inconsistency this season.
“A strange run for us. We had three straight wins against really good opponents, then we had mixed performances. We have to get it over the line,” Howe said.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Newcastle-Alexander Isak
Isak was involved in 24 Premier League goals for the club in 2024 (19 goals, five assists), the most by a Newcastle player in a year since Alan Shearer in 2002 (27 goals, four assists).
The only Magpies players to score more than 20 goals in a year are Shearer (22 in 1999, 27 in 2002) and Andrew Cole (24 in 1994).
Leicester – Jamie Vardy
Vardy has been involved in seven goals in his last seven Premier League appearances (four goals, three assists), including at least one in his last three. He could become the oldest player to score or assist in four consecutive top-flight games if he does so at St. James' Park.
At 37, the Foxes man continues to prove age is just a number. He has scored six goals and three assists in the Premier League this season and could easily become the fifth player aged 37 and over to score ten goals in one season.
The other players to achieve this are Teddy Sheringham in 2003–04 (nine goals, four assists), Gary Speed in 2006–07 (eight goals, two assists), Ryan Giggs in 2011–12 (two goals, eight assists ) and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2021-2022 (10 goals).
37 – Jamie Vardy is the second oldest player to score and assist in a Premier League match (37y 332d v Brighton), behind only Ryan Giggs in December 2011 (38y 22d v Fulham). Timeless. pic.twitter.com/7jCN3QPDYu
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 8, 2024
MATCH PREDICTION: NEWCASTLE WIN
Newcastle have lost just one of their last 21 Premier League meetings with promoted sides (W12 D8), losing 1-0 at Luton Town last season.
However, the Magpies have won just one of their last seven Premier League home games against Leicester (D1 L5), although they have avoided defeat on both occasions under Howe's management.
But they have scored more than three goals in each of their last two Premier League games, most recently in three straight games in December and January last season. The Magpies have done this ten times in 2024, but even more times in one year in 2021 (12) and 2014 (11).
This is Van Nistelrooy's seventh game this season as captain of a Premier League side in all competitions, but the first time he has played a match away from home.
In his playing career, the Dutchman played five games at St James' Park and scored in every match, the joint best 100% scoring rate by any player at any venue, along with Foxes striker Vardy at the Hawthorns.
And the Foxes have enjoyed recent trips to the North East. They have won six Premier League away games against Newcastle, more than against any other opponent. Five of these victories have come in their last seven visits to St James' Park.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Newcastle – 67.2%
Draw – 18%
Leicester – 14.8%
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