Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Eddie Howe’s team look to bounce back from shock defeat by Luton

Howe is speaking to Amazon Prime and has admitted injuries have played a part in his side struggling for consistency this month.

Newcastle have been knocked out of two cup competitions in December, but Howe expects his players to be ‘physically OK’ as they look to finish 2023 on a high.

Chris Wood is returning to Newcastle today after previously playing for the Magpies.

He has experience of being involved in a relegation battle, and believes Forest will need to come together to get themselves out of trouble over the coming months.

Newcastle have a brilliant record at St James’ Park this season after winning eight of their nine league matches there this season.

Anthony Gordon has spoken to Amazon Prime ahead of kick-off and claimed it is ‘the best stadium by far’ in England.

The Magpies will be looking to give their fans something to cheer this afternoon in their final home game of 2023.

Nuno has revealed he received an apology from PGMOL chief Howard Webb for Willy Boly’s red card on the weekend.

He has claimed the apology has been accepted and Forest are ready to move on, although it has been reported that Forest want referee Rob Jones banned from their matches after making their second complaint of the season against him.

Forest have made six changes to the team that lost 3-2 to Bournemouth on Saturday.

They played more than half of that game with 10 men after Willy Boly was sent off, and Nuno has just told Amazon Prime that he has rotated his squad in a bid to see more ‘energy’ from his players.

Matt Turner gets the nod in goal, while Chris Wood starts up front against his former club.

Alexander Isak is back in the starting XI, while Joelinton makes the bench.

Keeping clean sheets has been difficult for Forest this season, and their new manager Nuno Espirito Santo wants some more help from his goalkeepers.

He has called for better performances from goalkeepers Matt Turner and Odysseas Vlachodimos. Which one will start in goal today?

Who will line up for both these sides for the first game of Boxing Day?

We are just 10 minutes away from finding out.

Joelinton has missed Newcastle’s last two matches with a hamstring problem but has arrived at St James’ Park today.

Could he go straight back into the starting XI?

This will be one of the final times that Nottingham Forest will have a full squad of players to choose from with the Africa Cup of Nations due to get underway in just over two weeks.

Forest could lose six players to the tournament that is set to last for four weeks.

Thank you for joining us for our live coverage of the first Premier League match on Boxing Day.

Newcastle will be hosting Nottingham Forest, with team news expected at 11.30.