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Sir Elton wants Foster to be sacrificed
vPremier League, St James’ Park: 3pm ■After winning two and drawing two of their first four Premier League games with Watford, Newcastle have lost the last four in a row against the Hornets. ■ Newcastle are winless in their 10 league games so far this season – they’ve never failed to win any of their first 11 in a single top-flight campaign before.
■ The Toon have lost all five of their league home games so far this season – no top-flight side have ever lost their first six, while the last side to do so in any division were Watford in 1990-91 (second tier). ■Watford have won their last two league games without conceding – they last won three in a row without reply in December
2015.
■The Hornets have won seven points away from home in the Premier League this season (W2 D1 L1) – two more than they earned from their last 48 available on the road (W1 D2 L13). ■Newcastle have failed to score in four of their last five league outings, with the only goals coming in the first 10 minutes of their 3-2 defeat at Man Utd.
■ Watford’s Andre Gray has scored in both of his league appearances against Newcastle.
■The Hornets’ Roberto Pereyra has as many goals (5) in 10 league games this season as he did in 32 last term.
■ Watford’s Roberto Pereyra hopes to score in three big five European league
games in a row for the first time. JAVI GRACIA has swerved superstar fan Sir Elton John’s advice that Watford should sign goalkeeper Tom Heaton – because Ben Foster’s form warrants an England recall.
Hornets executive chairman Scott Duxbury revealed Sir Elton sent him a text message after last month’s 4-0 home defeat by Bournemouth.
It read: “Tom Heaton. I’d still buy him. Foster’s not consistent. Love, Elton.”
Duxbury declined the Rocket Man’s playful counsel, and now head coach Gracia – who admits he has several Elton songs on his playlist, among them Bennie And The Jets – has spoken up for Foster.
Heaton’s performances for Burnley have won him three England caps, but Foster has been a big hit with fans on his second coming at Vicarage Road.
And after his keeper’s second consecutive clean sheet in the 3-0 win against Huddersfield last weekend, Gracia spoke up for Foster, who made the last of his eight England appearances at the World Cup in 2014.
Gracia said: “Ben has FROM FRONT PAGE eight times. Benitez needs his side to avoid a sixth consecutive home defeat against Watford today.
Asked if some fans might boo Lascelles, 24, Benitez said: “It’s common sense. played at a high level for us, the same as other players in different areas on the pitch.
Goalkeeping is a specialist position and we NEWCASTLE: WATFORD: REFEREE: HEAD2HEAD:
ODDS: What do we have? Eleven players on the pitch and a squad on the bench.
“You have to support your family. This is our family.
“We have to support everyone, from the first are lucky to have some terrific keepers at the club – not only Ben but Heurelho Gomes and Pontus Dahlberg as well.
“At the moment Ben is playing at the top of his game. Everyone can see that he kept us in the game against Huddersfield early in the match and then gave us the basis to protect our lead after we scored two goals.
“I’m not just pleased with how he is playing – I’m very happy because he has a very good attitude, helping all the players with his happiness around the place. He sets an example. I don’t know what Sir Elton minute to the last. After, you can say, ‘I don’t agree, I’m not happy with that’.
“We are talking about the captain of the team, someone who cares.
“We cannot change our support for this player