Newcastle United and Chelsea are set to clash at St James' Park on Saturday, each eager to rebound from recent setbacks and make strides up the Premier League standings.

Currently positioned seventh in the table with 20 points from 12 matches, Newcastle had their seven-game unbeaten league run halted by Eddie Howe's former club, Bournemouth, just before the international break. 

A depleted Magpies squad, reeling from a 2-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League four days prior, succumbed to the same scoreline against Bournemouth, courtesy of Dominic Solanke's second-half brace.

Despite injuries posing challenges for Newcastle, the international break may have come at an opportune moment for Eddie Howe's side. It provides a chance to regroup, reset, and allow key players to regain fitness before facing a demanding series of fixtures in the coming weeks.

In contrast, Chelsea enters the matchup on a positive note, having secured four crucial points in consecutive clashes against former Premier League leaders Tottenham Hotspur and current table-toppers Manchester City. 

The Blues first triumphed 4-1 against a nine-man Spurs outfit in a tumultuous encounter in North London. Subsequently, they shared the spoils with Manchester City in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Stamford Bridge, with Cole Palmer, a former City player, making headlines by calmly converting a 95th-minute penalty to salvage a point.

Although Chelsea has only won four of their first 12 Premier League fixtures, Mauricio Pochettino's team has displayed promise in recent months. 

They have suffered only one defeat in their last eight games across all competitions, showcasing an improved attacking threat by scoring 20 goals in that span. 

This contrasts with their earlier struggles, having netted just seven goals in as many matches at the start of the campaign.

Newcastle United possible starting lineup:

Pope; Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Livramento; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock; Almiron, Gordon, Joelinton.

Chelsea possible starting lineup:

Sanchez; James, Disasi, Silva, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo, Gallagher; Palmer, Jackson, Sterling.