Sheffield Wednesday v Newcastle predictions: Striker Wood can seize his chance

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Sheffield Wednesday v Newcastle in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

Where to watch

BBC One, 6pm Saturday

Best bets

Chris Wood to be first goalscorer
1pt 9-2 bet365

Liam Palmer to score at any time
1pt 16-1 Paddy Power

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Team news

Sheffield Wednesday
Lee Gregory, Dominic Iorfa and experienced midfielder Barry Bannan are doubtful for the Owls.

Newcastle
Eddie Howe should shuffle his pack after Newcastle's Premier League exertions so there could be starts for Jamaal Lascelles, Chris Wood and Allan Saint-Maximin. Jonjo Shelvey, Matt Targett, Emil Krafth, Paul Dummett and Alexander Isak remain sidelined.

Match preview

The most recent of Newcastle's six FA Cup triumphs came in 1955 but bookmakers are keeping the Magpies firmly onside in the outright market after a remarkable year of progress for Eddie Howe's side.

Newcastle kicked off 2022 in the Premier League relegation zone and they were beaten 1-0 at home by 12-1 shots Cambridge United in the third round of the FA Cup.

In contrast, the Magpies started 2023 by holding league leaders Arsenal to a goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium – a useful result in their own pursuit of Champions League football – and they are hot favourites to progress from a third-round cup tie at League One Sheffield Wednesday.

With no European distractions, Howe's men are regarded as serious contenders for the cup this season and before the start of the third round they were joint-sixth in the betting at 12-1.

Pessimistic members of the Toon Army – if any still exist – might point out that the Magpies have reached the FA Cup quarter-finals only once in the past 16 seasons.

However, they have lost only once in 21 matches in all competitions this term, when they conceded a decisive goal in the 97th minute against Liverpool at Anfield in August, have kept four straight clean sheets since the resumption of the domestic season, and are third-favourites for the EFL Cup, in which they host Leicester in the quarter-finals.

Those statistics are particularly impressive given that Howe has been working with a relatively small squad due to injuries. Eight players have started at least 15 of Newcastle's 18 Premier League fixtures and a ninth, Sean Longstaff, has been in the 11 on 14 occasions.

Changes are likely to be made for the trip to Hillsborough although Howe will be wary of the fine form of hosts Wednesday, whose 5-0 rout of Cambridge on Monday leaves them in second place in League One, unbeaten in 13 matches since conceding an injury-time goal to lose 2-1 at leaders Plymouth in October.

Darren Moore's men have conceded only 18 goals in 25 league matches this season so the 6-1 shots are unlikely to roll over against their Premier League visitors and the draw-Newcastle double result is worth considering at 100-30.

It is a trappy betting heat between two confident teams and the strength of Newcastle's starting line-up will be a crucial factor for punters.

England striker Callum Wilson may not be risked so Chris Wood should get another chance to lead the line after starting two of Newcastle's last three league games, converting a third-minute penalty in the 3-0 win at Leicester.

Wood is worth backing to break the deadlock again while imposing Wednesday centre-back Liam Palmer is a more speculative selection in the anytime-goalscorer market, having scored three times in the league this season.