Newcastle vs West Brom – News and Probable Lineups

On Wednesday evening, St James’ Park will host a clash between two former champions of the EFL Cup, as Newcastle United takes on West Bromwich Albion in the second round.

The matchup promises a chance to secure a spot in the hat for the third-round draw, which will occur immediately following the conclusion of the match, with the next phase of the tournament scheduled for the weeks starting September 7 and 14.

Match overview

Despite many predictions suggesting a tough season ahead for Newcastle in 2026-27 following Eddie Howe’s exit and the loss of several key players, initial performances indicate that Matthias Jaissle’s youthful, revamped squad could surprise their critics.

Newcastle was notably the team that dropped the most points (27) from winning positions during the 2025-26 season, and they narrowly missed out on maximum points against Liverpool on the season’s opening weekend, with a last-gasp penalty from Dominik Szoboszlai ensuring a 2-2 draw.

However, Jaissle expressed pride in his team’s effort, highlighting how they “really left their heart on the pitch, and this is something we can build on.” The intense support from the St James’ Park crowd was also acknowledged by the 38-year-old, who experienced “goosebumps” during his first encounter with English football.

As they prepare for a Premier League trip to Tottenham on Saturday, Newcastle must momentarily set aside those plans, focusing on their first EFL Cup fixture of the season—a competition they clinched in 2024-25, ending a 70-year wait for silverware, and have taken seriously in recent years, reaching the quarter-finals consistently over the last four seasons.

Newcastle also has a strong track record against their upcoming opponents, West Brom, winning seven and drawing four of their last 14 encounters in all competitions (L3), while coming out on top in four of the last six home games against them (D1 L1).

After narrowly escaping relegation from the Championship last season, West Brom have started the new campaign positively, securing victories in their first two league matches against Norwich City and Burnley, both of which are seen as promotion contenders.

The Baggies kicked off their season with a 2-1 away win over Norwich, followed by a 3-1 comeback victory against Burnley last Sunday, where Isaac Price played a pivotal role, scoring twice in the second half to secure all three points at The Hawthorns.

West Brom also made an easy progression to a 4-1 win away at Rotherham in the first round of the EFL Cup earlier this month. While head coach James Morrison is thrilled with his team’s flawless start, he cautioned that “it is going to be a long, hard season with ups and downs.”

Currently sitting second in the Championship, West Brom is one of only three teams with a perfect record, as they prepare for two trips to the North East, the first being their EFL Cup clash with Newcastle, followed by a league match against promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough just three days later.

West Brom lifted the EFL Cup trophy back in 1965-66, but their recent history in this competition has not been encouraging. They have failed to advance beyond the third round in 18 of the last 20 years and have been eliminated in the first round in each of the last three seasons, including a penalty shootout defeat to Derby last year.

Team News

Newcastle’s newly appointed captain Dan Burn is unavailable due to ankle ligament damage, with Joelinton (groin) and Tino Livramento (calf) also sidelined.

Nevertheless, William Osula is expected to be fit after picking up an ankle knock in the draw with Liverpool. Jaissle may consider whether to keep the Dane up front with Yoane Wissa, who had the most duels (11) of any Newcastle player on Sunday, or give Nick Woltemade his first start of the season.

Joe Willock, who scored as a substitute against Liverpool, could earn a spot in the starting lineup in midfield, while the £43m acquisition Bazoumana Toure aims to make his full debut in attack, potentially replacing either Anthony Elanga—who also found the net at the weekend—or Harvey Barnes.

Reports indicate that Newcastle has agreed on a deal to bring in midfielder Nico Gonzalez from Manchester City, but it remains uncertain if the transfer will be completed in time for the match on Wednesday.

For West Brom, Morrison has downplayed transfer rumors regarding Mikey Johnston, confirming that the winger missed the victory over Burnley due to an ankle injury. A late decision will be made regarding his fitness for Wednesday.

Ousmane Diakite was fit to start and played the full 90 minutes last weekend, and he could retain his position in the starting XI alongside Jayson Molumby and either Felix Horn Myhre or fellow new signing Rabby Nzingoula.

Jimmy-Jay Morgan has started the new campaign strongly, netting three goals in three matches, and the 20-year-old is likely to maintain his place in attack, although Tammer Bany and Barney Stewart are also in contention for leading the line.

Newcastle United probable starting XI:

Jaouen; Shahar, Thiaw, Schar, Hall; Bamba, Willock; Murphy, Woltemade, Toure; Wissa

West Bromwich Albion probable starting XI:

O’:eary; Galves, Mepham, Phillips, Townsend; Whitwell, Molumby, Diakite, Price; Myhre; Morgan

Confidence is high among the West Brom squad as they carry positive momentum into the upcoming match, aiming to pull off an upset and rectify their poor recent record in the EFL Cup.

However, Newcastle, backed by a passionate home crowd, is expected to have ample quality to outscore their second-tier rivals and advance to the third round.