Eddie Howe is debating whether to change a winning team as Newcastle United get set to face Fulham in the Premier League.
After Newcastle United’s win over Benfica in the Champions League, Eddie Howe must decide if he is going to alter his starting XI. There will be a reluctance to change a winning team, countered by the need to rotate.
This is a must-win game for the Magpies, as they get set to take on a Fulham side that did the double over them last season. They have started the new campaign similarly to Newcastle United, sitting just one place and one point below them.
But Howe’s side will be strong favourites for this game, and this is Geordie Boot Boys’ predicted Newcastle United XI to face Fulham on Saturday.
Eddie Howe shakes hands with Sandro Tonali after substituting him during Newcastle United vs Liverpool.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images
Fabian Schar remains on the Newcastle United bench
For the seventh time this season, Newcastle United kept a clean sheet on Tuesday night. While the Portuguese media questioned Dan Burn and Malick Thiaw, it was another strong defensive performance from the Magpies.
That is bad news for Fabian Schar, who is set to remain on the bench. He has made just one substitute appearance since recovering from a concussion, and is unlikely to get an opportunity to start this weekend.
Howe will almost certainly name an unchanged backline, with Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall injured.
Eddie Howe recalls Sandro Tonali against Fulham
The big decision that Howe must make involves Sandro Tonali, after he spent the duration of the Benfica win on the bench.
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Newcastle United coped without Tonali, with Lewis Miley performing very well amid his teammate’s absence through illness.
Despite Miley’s strong showing, the Newcastle United manager must restore Tonali to the starting XI. The 25-year-old should return to the midfield alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Jacob Ramsey, with the latter tipped to start consecutive games for the first time in his Toon career.
That would mean Joelinton remains on the bench, having been dropped for the Champions League win over Benfica.
No start for Harvey Barnes after Champions League heroics
Harvey Barnes scored two beautiful goals against Benfica, but they are not going to be enough to earn him a return to the starting lineup.
Instead, Howe is tipped to stick with the same front three that started on Tuesday night.
Therefore, the £39million winger will have to settle for the role of super-sub once again. The same goes for Anthony Elanga, who watched from the bench as his replacement Jacob Murphy got his third assist of the season.
Howe certainly has options in reserve, which is pivotal amid this gruelling run of fixtures. He will need to use his bench wisely against Fulham, with the Carabao Cup clash versus Tottenham Hotspur looming.
Predicted Newcastle United XI vs Fulham: Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn; Bruno, Tonali, Ramsey; Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon.