What a difference a few days can make.
Monday’s late defeat to Liverpool was painful, but since then, we’ve struck a club record deal for German giant Nick Woltemade, seen an exciting Champions League draw and received a few much-needed injury boosts.
The mood has been lifted and the moody Swede will be off soon, I’d imagine, but we have to start winning games soon to kickstart our promising (performance-wise) but slow (points-wise) start to the new season.
Newly promoted Leeds United stand in our way and Elland Road will be lively. Our lack of available strikers throws up another obstacle for Eddie Howe and Anthony Gordon will be missed.
However, if we play anything like we did at Aston Villa or with 10 men against Liverpool earlier this week, we should have enough to beat a Leeds side who have lost back to back games since their 1-0 win over Everton on their opening day.
Fabian Schar has been passed fit, Joelinton is out – but should be back after the break – Anthony Gordon is banned, and Sandro Tonali is “battling” to be fit, with Howe revealing in Friday’s presser that he could be play if he manages his shoulder pain.
This is cheating slightly, but I think we could see one of the two line-ups at Elland Road tomorrow:
Newcastle X1 (4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento – Bruno, Tonali, Ramsey – Elanga, Osula, Barnes.
Newcastle XI (3-5-2): Pope – Thiaw, Schar, Burn – Trippier, Bruno, Tonali, Ramsey, Livramento – Elanga, Barnes.
Option one would mean a rare start for Will Osula after his came on Monday. It would be unlike Howe to throw him into a league game from the start, but if he’s not playing in this one, when does he?!
Both include Jacob Ramsey, who looks set to replace big Joe, but option two and the 3-5-2 would be a shift in formation. This would see Malick Thiaw add pace to a back three, our wing backs push up and see two stand-in forwards Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes play in central areas.
Should Tonali miss out, we can expect to see Lewis Miley start, whatever system Howe opts for.
My confidence levels are limited when our lack of striker over the first two weeks has clearly cost us, making this a big game and big opportunity to put recent frustrations aside and get back to winning ways.
Our lack of fit finishers can be combated by our togetherness, organisation, Howe’s tactics and the addition of Ramsey to the side, with our £39m arrival from Aston Villa ready to make an instant impact based on Monday’s sharp cameo.
Newcastle to find a way to win and Barnes to find the net in a tight but precious three points on the road.
Prediction: Leeds 1-2 Newcastle
Howay the lads!
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