Sunday 20 August 2017 13:55, UK
Huddersfield boss David Wagner has stressed the importance of the club's fans producing an "extraordinary atmosphere" that will help the players do the "dirty yards" in Sunday's historic clash with Newcastle.
The contest at the John Smith's Stadium, live on Sky Sports Premier League from 12.30pm, will be the first home Premier League game for the Terriers, who are back in the top flight this season after a 45-year absence and opened their campaign with a superb 3-0 win at Crystal Palace last weekend.
Wagner feels Huddersfield's fans stepping up the noise level from last term to back the team with "Premier League support" will be vital, and has every confidence they will do so.
"I'm very, very excited about this game on Sunday, and I have so much trust and belief in our supporters," Wagner said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.
"This will be an extraordinary atmosphere - and it has to be. We had great support and atmosphere in home games last season when we got promoted.
"But now, our supporters will deliver something special, I am totally sure, and this is so important for us - that this atmosphere will give everybody a lift, give everybody on the grass the last percentage to really make the dirty yards, the hard yards, to make it as uncomfortable as we can against Newcastle.
"This is our aim and for this, we need Premier League support on Sunday."
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez, meanwhile, says he and his players are ready for the challenge facing them this weekend.
"Huddersfield did really well the other day, and it will be a tough game, for sure," said the Spaniard in his pre-match press conference.
"What I have to do is concentrate on what we can do now, and make sure the players are ready for this game.
"I think we know how they play and they know how we play. If we do well, we'll have more confidence for the next games."
Huddersfield have no fresh fitness concerns ahead of Sunday's clash. After missing last weekend's win at Selhurst Park, Jonathan Hogg, Nahki Wells (both ankle), Martin Cranie (hip) and Jon Gorenc Stankovic (knee) all remain unavailable.
Midfielder Hogg is the closest to making a return to first-team action, although possibly not until after the forthcoming international break.
The visitors will be without Jonjo Shelvey for the trip to Huddersfield as he begins a three-match ban. The midfielder was sent off for standing on playmaker Dele Alli during last Sunday's 2-0 home defeat by Tottenham and will not be available again until September 10.
Benitez will also be without defenders Florian Lejeune (ankle ligaments) and Paul Dummett, while the game will come too soon for full-back DeAndre Yedlin (hamstring), but striker Joselu could be handed a debut after making his £5m switch from Stoke City.
Huddersfield's solitary win in their last 11 meetings with Newcastle in all competitions came at St James' Park in the Championship last season, running out 2-1 winners (D4 L6)
The away side won both league contests in 2016-17, with the Magpies enjoying a 3-1 victory at the John Smith's Stadium, courtesy of goals from Matt Ritchie, Daryl Murphy and Dwight Gayle
Huddersfield's last venture in the top flight ended with an 11-match winless run at home (D5 L6), which included a 0-0 draw with Newcastle in January 1972
Only two newly promoted sides have won their first two Premier League games - Hull City in 2016-17 and Bolton Wanderers in 2001-02
Huddersfield's starting XI against Palace was the youngest of any team in MD1, with an average age of 25 years and 143 days
Steve Mounie scored twice on his Premier League debut in the Terriers' 3-0 win at Palace - the last player to score in his first two Premier League appearances while at a newly promoted side was Michael Ricketts with Bolton in 2001-02
Dwight Gayle has scored in all three of his previous league games against Huddersfield, finding the net in both league games against them last season
I thought Newcastle did alright against Tottenham. They weren't great but they looked hard to beat and Spurs didn't really look like scoring until Jonjo Shelvey was sent off.
The pressure will be on Huddersfield a bit more after their win at Crystal Palace and they might have to chase the game more. I know Huddersfield have bought players in but Newcastle were the better team in the Championship last year and I think there's less pressure on them this weekend.
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
Huddersfield are Sky Bet's 11/8 favourites for the victory, with Newcastle 2/1, while the draw is priced at 9/4. The pair's relegation odds went in opposite directions following contrasting starts to the season, with the Terriers' out to odds-against at 11/10 as their visitors were cut from 4/1 to 3/1 to go down. Mounie heads the first goalscorer betting at 5/1, while Gayle is considered the Magpies' main threat at 6/1 to net first.
