Newcastle boss Eddie Howe
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe
Newcastle United could make some key changes to their starting XI for today's Premier League with Crystal Palace - with midfield the main focus of attention.
Eddie Howe has admitted he faces a challenge of how to accomodate both Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali in his starting XI - but fans have urged him to do just that this afternoon. The Italian has had to settle for a bench role ever since he starred in the centre of midfield in the Carabao Cup win over Chelsea.
But he could come back into the side at Selhurst Park - alongside Bruno - in a changed midfield. Asked if the pair can start together, Howe said: "Anything is possible. Of course they can. They are two outstanding players. It's up to me to try and find a solution that works for both players and sees their qualities within the team.
"You can put any player into the team and any combination of players into the team, but it's got to be to the team's benefit. It has to be right for both players to showcase their attributes, so hopefully we can do that."
Each week, we ask you to pick your Newcastle United XI for the next big game, and fans have opted for some significant changes.
Not only is Tonali restored to the starting XI, but Harvey Barnes comes into our fans' team, with Joelinton and Joe Willock dropping the bench. The latter has had an injury this week, but Joelinton's exclusion is something of a surprise.
Dan Burn comes back into the team in central defence in the third and final change from the side which lost to West Ham on Monday night. In our fans XI, Tonali has been given the central midfield role, with Bruno given licence to get forward and link up with the attacking players.
Team news from Selhurst Park will land at 1.45pm today, and we'll bring you all the latest as it happens right here on ChronicleLive.
Newcastle United fans XI vs Crystal Palace: Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Longstaff; Gordon, Barnes, Isak.