CHERRIES host Eddie Howe’s Newcastle as they hope to get their Premier League home campaign off to the best start possible.

The former AFC Bournemouth boss returns to the Vitality Stadium for the third time since joining the Magpies.

Cherries will be hoping he returns to the north east empty handed once again, after a Dominic Solanke brace secured the points for Andoni Iraola’s side in this fixture last season.

The Daily Echo previews Sunday’s clash at Dean Court.

Team news

Andoni Iraola confirmed a clean bill of health for AFC Bournemouth ahead of the Magpies’ visit, with only the three players who had surgery over the summer missing out.

The Cherries boss expects new striker Evanilson to play some role in the game, having trained all week, and he faces a selection headache at centre back with the return of Marcos Senesi from illness.

(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

Senesi will need to displace either Illia Zabarnyi or new signing Dean Huijsen, who impressed on his Premier League debut last weekend.

Newcastle will be without Fabian Schar after he saw red last weekend vs Southampton, with Emil Krafth likely to come in in his place.

Former Cherries club captain Lloyd Kelly made his Magpies league debut on Saturday, coming on as a substitute in the 69th minute, and is likely to start from the bench once again.

Striker Alexander Isak will be looking to open his goalscoring account after scoring 21 goals last term.

Head-to-head

Andoni Iraola has a good record against Newcastle, having taken four points off the north east club in first season at AFC Bournemouth.

Eddie Howe is yet to beat his former side in the Premier League, having lost the same fixture last season, with a Dominic Solanke brace securing all three points for the home side.

This result lifted Cherries out of the relegation zone last November, as Solanke scored two in 13 minutes in the second half to secure a deserved win for the club.

The reverse fixture at St James’ Park saw the Magpies rescue a late point in a 2-2 draw, through former Cherries man Matt Ritchie in stoppage time.

In five games against Cherries, Howe has won just one game – a 1-0 win at St James’ Park in December 2022 in the League Cup.

Across these five games, there have been three draws and one win apiece for each side.

Cherries are undefeated in the league against Newcastle since 2020.

Last time out

Newcastle beat Cherries’ south coast neighbours Southampton last weekend 1-0 to register an opening day win – although they had to do it the hard way after Fabian Schar was sent off within the first 30 minutes of the game.

The Magpies benefited from an Alex McCarthy mistake as the ‘keeper passed straight to Alexander Isak, who squared it for Joelinton to finish before half time.

Cherries rescued a late point against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground last Saturday.

Antoine Semenyo was on hand to finish with four minutes left to play, cancelling out Chris Wood’s first half opening goal.

The game kicks off at 2pm on Sunday, August 25.