And Eddie Howe admits he is facing a difficult team selection, with the head coach weighing up whether to ring the changes from Sunday’s dismal defeat to West Ham United or give the team a chance to redeem themselves.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Howe said: “I'll always consider the team selection in great detail, in great length. I never set out to make a statement. I'll set out to try and pick a team to win the next game. That's the only statement that we need to make, and so that's what I'll try and do on this occasion.
“Difficult team to pick, I think, off the back of Sunday, because you could make wholesale changes or you could give the main group of players a chance to redeem themselves for what they delivered and what we delivered.
“I'm still not 100% there with my team, although it's 99% there.”
Newcastle will welcome back Kieran Trippier after he missed the West Ham game through illness, though could be without captain Bruno Guimaraes, who has also been suffering with illness in recent days.
Howe said: “Yeah, so it seems like there's been a bit of illness going through the squad because various players now have picked something up. So I think Sandro, initially, Jacob Murphy, Bruno, Kieran.
“We’ll make a decision on Bruno tomorrow. He's such an important player for us, but he's clearly not been himself and that's why he's not trained.”
Here’s how Newcastle are predicted to line-up against Athletic:
Nick Pope had an afternoon to forget at West Ham, just a few days after Ramsdale staked a claim for a starting spot for his performance against Tottenham Hotspur.
1. GK: Aaron Ramsdale (in for Nick Pope)
Nick Pope had an afternoon to forget at West Ham, just a few days after Ramsdale staked a claim for a starting spot for his performance against Tottenham Hotspur. | Getty Images
Sat out of the West Ham game due to illness and his absence saw Emil Krafth, Malick Thiaw, Jacob Murphy and Sandro Tonali rather unsuccessfully all tried at right-back.
2. RB: Kieran Trippier (in for Emil Krafth)
Sat out of the West Ham game due to illness and his absence saw Emil Krafth, Malick Thiaw, Jacob Murphy and Sandro Tonali rather unsuccessfully all tried at right-back. | Getty Images
Arguably the only starting player to emerge from the London Stadium with any credit. Has been pretty faultless since arriving from AC Milan in the summer.
3. CB: Malick Thiaw
Arguably the only starting player to emerge from the London Stadium with any credit. Has been pretty faultless since arriving from AC Milan in the summer. | Getty Images
The Dutchman has developed a strong partnership with Thiaw, though fell short of his usual levels against West Ham.
4. CB: Sven Botman
The Dutchman has developed a strong partnership with Thiaw, though fell short of his usual levels against West Ham. | Getty Images