Newcastle United have several selection options ahead of their game vs West Ham
Eddie Howe instructs Joe Willock
Joe Willock with Eddie Howe
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Newcastle United travel to the capital today for another vital Premier League clash. This time, West Ham United are in the firing line.
The Hammers have had a disappointing start to the season and parted company with manager Graham Potter. They haven't fared too much better yet under new boss Nuno Espirito Santo, but possess a wealth of Premier League quality and experience with the likes of Jarred Bowen and Lucas Paqueta in their ranks.
Newcastle are on a high after their win over Tottenham Hotspur in midweek. Eddie Howe rang the changes for that Carabao Cup game and could do the same today with belief in his squad strength high. Our writers pick their starting XI as they try to predict the Magpies manager's thoughts.
Lee Ryder
It's back to the bread and butter of the Premier League for Eddie Howe and his Magpies, and he has the advantage of being able to rest a few bodies in midweek for the Carabao Cup.
There will be an air of familiarity about the XI he selects at the London Stadium and I expected the big guns to be in from the start once more. I don't think there is any need for major surgery and it's time to go with the tried and trusted.
I'd bring back Nick Pope despite Aaron Ramsdale's contributions the other night and it will be a back four of Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Malick Thiaw and Dan Burn. The usual trio in midifeld and for me it's Jacob Murphy who gets the shout over Anthony Elanga.
Getting the game sealed off and then looking to tweak seems to be the right way to go for Howe and his backroom team ahead of Bilbao next week.
Lee's team to face West Ham: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Joelinton, Tonali, Bruno, Gordon, Murphy, Woltemade
Sean McCormick
Eddie Howe made eight changes vs Spurs and the best compliment you can give Newcastle is that you could not tell.
Such is the strength of Newcastle's squad now they can afford to make changes to manage the workload of their squad but making such wholesale changes almost felt like a reset during a busy period to allow them to play their strongest available side against West Ham
And that is what I think Howe will do, given how much importance he placed on getting not only Newcastle's first away win of their Premier League season but a second successive league win for the first time this term.
Three points against the Hammers could propel Newcastle back into the European mix and despite some impressive performances on Wednesday, I still think their strongest current XI picks themselves.
Sean's team to face West Ham: Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Gordon; Woltemade
Andrew Musgrove
It was great to see so many 'fringe' players make an impact in the much changed side against Spurs earlier in the week. Opportunities for the likes of Joe Willock and Aaron Ramsdale will be few, so they have to take them when it comes their way.
I think Howe will bring back the stars who beat Fulham last weekend but it's great for Howe to have a squad that is flying high. The only possible change I could see Howe making is with Joelinton given that West Ham have a serious lack of pace in the middle. Could that be better suited to Jacob Ramsey or Joe Willock? If so, I'd play Ramsey but something tells me, Howe might opt for Willock.
Andrew's team to face West Ham: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Guimaraes, Tonali, Willock, Murphy, Gordon, Woltemade
Ross Gregory
It feels like the easiest team selection yet for Eddie Howe, but there's just something nagging away in the back of my mind about this one.
The eight changes in midweek refreshed the side and the likes of Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon should all come back into the starting XI.
I only have two doubts. One is the third midfield spot alongside Bruno and Sandro Tonali. Like Andrew above, I wonder whether Howe may spring a surprise and go for Willock or Ramsey - though if I had to stick my mortgage on it, I'd say Joelinton will still get the nod. And then the right wing spot really should be Jacob Murphy's, but Harvey Barnes has been very good recently and may get the nod.
Ross's team to face West Ham: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Barnes, Gordon, Woltemade