Newcastle United are back in action tonight, and it’s fair to say we need to see a response.
Sunday’s derby display was a disgrace, increasing the importance of our Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Fulham at 8.15pm.
Eddie Howe will almost certainly make changes from that 1-0 defeat at Sunderland. Here is the team we’re backing the boss to go with and why…
(4-3-3): Ramsdale – Livramento, Thiaw, Schar, Hall – Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Wissa, Barnes.
OUT: Burn, Miley, Gordon, Elanga, Woltemade IN: Schar, Joelinton, Barnes, Murphy, Wissa.
At the back, we have no real options to change it from the defence that ended our 1-0 defeat at Sunderland, with Burn, Botman, Trippier and Krafth all out. With that in mind, Schar will almost certainly partner Thiaw, and I’d guess that Ramsdale will keep his place, for now, even if Pope is edging closer to coming back.
In midfield, I fully expect Joelinton to return if fit enough. If not, it’ll surely be one of Willock or Ramsey down that left. As for Tonali, it’s hard to say if he needs games to get back to his best and regain match sharpness or a rest, although I’d suggest the former may be what he needs after a ‘bitty’ last few months due to illness and injury.
Out wide, Gordon and Elanga should be dropped after last Sunday’s horror show from both, giving Barnes and Murphy a chance to stake their claims for a starting spot once again.
Last but not least, who starts up top? I may be wrong on this and Howe may decide he’s not ready to start, but 50-60 minutes of Wissa could be beneficial in more ways than one. Not only to build up the sort of match fitness he can’t gain from short cameos, but to give Woltemade a much-needed rest after clear signs of fatigue in recent games.
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