Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Newcastle United at Elland Road on August 30, 2025 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)placeholder image
Eddie Howe, Manager of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Newcastle United at Elland Road on August 30, 2025 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Newcastle United selection dilemmas Eddie Howe has for Saturday’s clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
And with that, Eddie Howe has a number of selection dilemmas.
Go back to 4-3-3
Getting straight to the point, I’d be surprised if that formation remains in place this weekend, not least because Joelinton could be back or there are now two strikers to pick from, but because it doesn’t seem to have the desired effect against the so-called lesser teams.
Five at the back worked a treat against the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea last season, but less so against Everton on the final day and Leeds last time out. Wolves are of a similar level.
Time to recall Lewis Hall
After two positive cameos against Liverpool and Leeds, is it time to recall Lewis Hall? I think so.
Hall was arguably the best left-back in the Premier League before foot surgery in March. He brought a real balance down the left, kept some of the division’s best wingers quiet and did damage in the final third with his lovely left foot.
Now that he’s proven his fitness, it’s very hard to leave a player of his ability out of the team.
Bringing the 21-year-old back into the side would require a change at right-back, and this is no slight on Kieran Trippier, who, by all accounts has started the campaign well, but Tino Livramento is the first choice.
That said, Livramento needs to up his performances on the right, which is something he has yet to do consistently, often playing his best football on the left.
Jacob Ramsey to start - if fit
Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes are shoo-ins, right? So it’s all about the third man. And based on what I’ve seen from Jacob Ramsey so far, I’d like to see him get the nod.
Ramsey’s full debut was cut short at Elland Road after he came off at half-time with a swollen ankle, but the early suggestions were that he is OK. It was a positive opening 45 minutes from him. He’ll be keen to build on that as he settles at his new club.
Plus, it’d give Joelinton a little extra rest as he recovers from his muscle injury. Barcelona, who visit St James’ Park in the Champions League four days later, is the game for the big-game Brazilian.
Right and left wing
It was imperative that Newcastle signed a right forward this summer, despite Jacob Murphy’s remarkable stats last season, and they did that by investing big money to sign Anthony Elanga from Nottingham Forest.
It’s clear Elanga has electrifying pace that sparks fear into the defenders, but what has been lacking in these opening three games is end product.
Say what you want about Murphy’s performance at Leeds, but it was he who registered two of Newcastle’s best opportunities, which is why I’m leaning towards him instead of Elanga against Wolves.
On the left, and I’m probably at risk of contradicting myself here, I’d choose Harvey Barnes. He offered very little after coming on as a substitute at Elland Road but needs to begin picking up form, otherwise Gordon will walk back into the team.
Yoane Wissa or Nick Woltemade?
That’s the big question. But for all the excitement surrounding club-record signing Nick Woltemade, most supporters I speak to are in agreement that Yoane Wissa should start, at least in the short term while the 6ft 6in German adapts to life in England.
Howe was keen to stress that patience is required with Woltemade. He’s an exciting, unique prospect, but having really broken onto the European stage last season, there are still plenty of edges to refine.
Wissa, meanwhile, has been signed to hit the ground running and that he should do, with his 19 goals in the Premier League last season no fluke.
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