Eddie Howe returns to the ground that launched his managerial career, but this is no sentimental reminiscence. It is a test of Newcastle's ability to adapt.

Under Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth looks familiar: front-footed, aggressive in transition and resilient at home. The Cherries' 2-1 win over Brighton last week was defined not by Antoine Semenyo's 61st-minute penalty alone, but by managing stretches that normally turn ragged.

Bournemouth turned Brighton's usual patience on the ball into hurried exchanges. Can Iraola's club do the same to Newcastle?

Newcastle arrives in transition, reshaping its attack after Alexander Isak's departure to Liverpool. Howe's answer was swift: a club-record move for 23-year-old Nick Woltemade. The German striker scored on debut against Wolves, a far-post header that hinted at a more vertical option than Newcastle often relied on last season.

Yoane Wissa is set to miss the next month after sustaining a knee knock on international duty, so the Magpies will need their fullbacks to supply width and target the spaces Bournemouth leaves behind its press.

This matchup tends to be defined by execution in possession from deep. Bournemouth will spring traps on the first pass out and break quickly. Newcastle, still calibrating after a turbulent summer, can steady its approach by winning first contact on diagonals and moving forward immediately. If Woltemade holds the line and runners break off him, the visitors have an outlet. If Bournemouth make Newcastle's first touch contested, the Vitality will be in full voice.

Set pieces could tilt the balance. Bournemouth's rehearsed short-corner routines meet Newcastle's height and aggression. The first 15 minutes should set the tone.

Howe has never beaten Bournemouth in Premier League play since taking over Newcastle in 2021. He is in 0-4-2 against his former side, with one win in the League Cup.

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