The team sheets are in at St James’ Park, where Newcastle United return to Champions League action against La Liga side Athletic Bilbao.
A chance to make it three UCL wins in a row presents itself, with Newcastle also in need of a big response after Sunday’s horror show at West Ham.
Here is how the two sides line up, seeing Eddie Howe make changes and Bilbao miss a number of key players…
**Newcastle XI:** Pope – Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn – Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton – Barnes, Woltemade, Gordon
**Subs:** Thompson, Ramsdale, Hall, Schar, Krafth, Osula, Elanga, A.Murphy, Willock, J.Murphy, Ramsey, Miley
**Athletic Bilbao XI:** Unai Simon **–** Areso, Vivian, Paredes, Adama – Jauregizar, Rego – Berenguer, Vesga, Navarro – Unai G.
Eddie Howe has made just the two changes from the 3-1 defeat at West Ham, with Sunday’s goalscorer Jacob Murphy making way for Harvey Barnes, and Kieran Trippier returning to the team in place of Emil Krafth.
Captain Bruno Guimaraes was feared to be absent due to the illness bug that has ran rife throughout the squad, but the Brazilian looks to be well enough to start tonight.
And the duo of Nick Woltemade and Anthony Gordon and Murphy have kept their places up top, despite Howe’s notably unhappy thoughts with their performances against the Hammers last weekend.
Meanwhile the visitors are without key players Nico Williams, Inaki Williams and Oihan Sancet, but they’ll be looking to build on their first win of the league phase after seeing off Qarabag 3-1 a fortnight ago.
Spanish internationals Unai Simon and Aymeric Laporte are the big names to look out for, but the former Manchester City star has only made the bench for Ernesto Valverde’s team.
A big win tonight could see us go as high as 3rd in the league table, and will be the perfect momentum building for Sunday’s game against Brentford. Howay the lads!