Nottingham native Chris Sutton is predicting Newcastle United to edge Nottingham Forest on their return to the Premier League this weekend.
The Reds face a tough return to the top-flight on Saturday afternoon at St James' Park up against a Newcastle United side that ended last season as one of the form teams in the Premier League after comfortably avoiding relegation. Steve Cooper's side are also being backed to achieve that goal by Sutton at the end of this coming campaign.
That is largely down to their work in the transfer market to date, with the strengthening in midfield through to arrivals of Jesse Lingard and Orel Mangala highlighted as good bits of business. It is not seen as enough to secure a positive result on their travels from the off, though.
READ MORE: Awoniyi, Cook, Niakhate - Newcastle United vs Nottingham Forest predicted XI
READ MORE: Nottingham Forest make key announcement ahead of Newcastle clash - with shock omission
"It's great to see Forest back in the Premier League after 23 years and I hope they do well," former Norwich, Blackburn, Chelsea and Celtic striker Sutton told BBC Sport. "I was born in Nottingham and I was a massive fan of Brian Clough's European Cup-winning sides when I was growing up. Then I was lucky enough to play under two players from that time, Martin O'Neill and John Robertson, at Celtic.
"Forest could do with a player like Robertson now, but they have made a couple of interesting moves in the transfer market already - Jesse Lingard is a good signing and I like the look of their new Belgian midfielder, Orel Mangala, too. I think they will stay up.
"As far as this game goes, it is another tricky one to call - but I am going for Newcastle to edge it because they have got home advantage."
What is your prediction for Newcastle vs Forest? Let us know in the comments...
READ NEXT:
