Wilson vs Pukki: Who will fire their side to a vital win?

Newcastle United host Norwich City on Tuesday night as the bottom two sides face off in a vital match.  

The Magpies are rock bottom and winless with just six points from their opening 13 matches.

Meanwhile, the Canaries sit a place above them with nine points, seven of which have come in the last three games.

It’s also been an eventful time in the dugout for both clubs this term.

Following a headline hitting takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Newcastle dismissed Steve Bruce and replaced him with Eddie Howe.

How has picked up one point from his two matches in charge.

Norwich also parted ways with their manager with Dean Smith now in the hot seat after Daniel Farke was sacked earlier this month.

Just two and three matches into Howe and Smith’s respective reins, there’s no getting away from the fact that this is a huge game for both with Leeds United currently the team occupying the last safe spot on 12 points.

With that in mind we have selected a player from each side who has the potential to be a match winner at St James’ Park.

Starting with the home side, Callum Wilson is a proven marksman in the Premier League and the player the Toon Army will be looking to for goals.

Despite suffering with injuries in his time on Tyneside, the England international has scored 14 times in 31 appearances in all competitions.

Wilson also has four Premier League strikes to his name this term in nine matches – one more than Allan Saint-Maximin and three more than any other player.

He has however scored just once in six career matches against Norwich, so will be hoping to boost that by ending a streak of four games without a goal on Tuesday.

In the Canaries’ corner, striker Teemu Pukki could be the player to fire Norwich to a second consecutive away win.

Although he’s blown hot and cold in spells in the Premier League, the Finland star has prolific career numbers having netted 71 times in 140 matches for Norwich.

Three of those game in his last match against Newcastle as he scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 win at Carrow Road back in August 2019.

He’s also level on Wilson with four Premier League goals for the season – albeit in 13 games – and has scored twice in his last three top-flight appearances.

The great thing about football though is that stats are there to be challenged so the big question on Wednesday is which in-form forward will help their team come out on top..?

You can make your own mind up but, to help you do that, here’s how they have performed in the 2020/21 Premier League season so far…

*Statistics via Premier League.