Looking at this Newcastle team v Manchester City.
Our next match in the Premier League.
Newcastle United looking to get back on the winning trail after Brentford 13 days ago.
A victory would also make it seven wins from the last ten games, in all competitions, for United.
It would also be the first time Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United had won against Man City in the Premier League, though there was that 1-0 victory in the League Cup two seasons ago.
As a reminder, this was the Newcastle team v Brentford:
Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Bruno, Joelinton, Tonali, Murphy, Woltemade, Barnes
Eddie Howe gave an update on Friday, regarding the injury and availability for the squad ahead of Saturday’s match.
Yoane Wissa and Will Osula remain out through injury and building back to full fitness.
Dan Burn is suspended for this match.
Eddie Howe has said that Joelinton, Nick Pope and Sandro Tonali are all available, whilst he said it was “touch and go” as to whether Anthony Gordon would be.
Lewis Hall is now presumably available to start if selected, after a couple of sub appearances for NUFC and playing for the England Under 21s.
Tino Livramento has been training with the group and appears set to be in the matchday squad today.
So taking all of that into consideration…
This is my predicted Newcastle team v Manchester City:
Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Bruno, Joelinton, Tonali, Gordon, Woltemade, Murphy
If proved correct, this would mean two changes from Brentford.
Hall coming in for the suspended Burn, Gordon for Barnes.
This isn’t necessarily my choice of team, instead, it is what I think will be the reality, what Eddie Howe goes with.
No doubt plenty of you will be saying Ramsdale should be starting.
If he had came on against Brentford and saved the penalty then kept a clean sheet and helped United to a draw, possibly a win, then that may well have happened.
I am not blaming Ramsdale for not saving the penalty of course, just saying what a huge positive it would have been if he had done! Plus, very likely influenced Eddie Howe to give him the chance to build on it if not conceding at all against Brentford.
Fact is that for me the third goal wouldn’t have happened with Nick Pope on the pitch. The ball was diverted behind Sven Botman by one of his teammates and I didn’t think Ramsdale reacted as Pope would have done. Probably in part because he has only played two full games. I reckon Pope would have taken charge and either cleared or smothered the ball himself, or told Botman what the danger was and between them sorted it. Anyway, I would be surprised if Pope isn’t playing today.
I hear people wanting Botman left out and if Burn had been available then that may well have been the case. Burn has played well against Haaland, especially at St James’ Park, often left one on one with him and enjoying the physical battle. I think Eddie Howe will match up Botman for that physical battle today and whilst of course I rate Fabian Schar, I don’t see Eddie choosing to play two right footed central defenders, so Thiaw with Botman. Unless of course Eddie Howe names a three/five man defence…
Lewis Hall looks sure to come in at left-back if fully fit but I think Kieran Trippier stays in at right-back. He has been very good overall and only problem has been having to play every weekend and midweek at the age of 35. Brilliant to have Livramento heading back but a sub appearance today and then starting against Marseille looks likely.
Hopefully a day when the midfield trio are back fully firing as a unit.
I think there are reasons to believe this will be the case and why Eddie Howe will play them.
Joelinton will have benefited from no matches for two weeks, Tonali sat out the second Italy game so he couldn’t be suspended for the World Cup play-off semi-final in March, whilst at least Bruno was spared playing the final half hour in Brazil’s second match.
Big Nick Woltemade will be buzzing after three goals for Germany that played such a big part in their World Cup qualification.
Anthony Gordon hasn’t had a great start this season overall but some of the abuse he gets is crazy.
Clearly he has been struggling physically and hopefully these last couple of weeks have helped get him put right. He starts 100 per cent if fully fit.
On the right, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Anthony Elanga plays, as Eddie Howe looks to get pace in the team on both flanks. On balance though, I think Murphy may well start again and plenty defensive discipline needed on that side of the pitch, with Doku in flying form recently.