Newcastle United host Chelsea at St James' Park in the Premier League
Newcastle United's Yoane Wissa, Eddie Howe and Nick Woltemade
Newcastle United's Yoane Wissa, Eddie Howe and Nick Woltemade
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The games are coming thick and fast for Newcastle United. Next up is Chelsea at St James' Park, just three days after the Magpies disposed of Fulham to reach the semi-final of the Carabao Cup.
The Premier League form is a concern, however, and after the dismal, disastrous derby defeat last Sunday, it's a game United simply must win. That's why team selection will be crucial.
In truth, Newcastle have few options in certain areas of the pitch, particularly defence, and Eddie Howe will have to keep juggling his resources as the busy festive and January period looms. We asked our writers what starting line-ups they'd plump for.
Lee Ryder
Newcastle look like a team that need to go back to basics to me, so that's exactly what I'd be doing. The back four effectively picks itself if Lewis Hall is not going to be fit, so step forward Alex Murphy and carry on with the good work Lewis Miley.
I'd go with Bruno and Sandro Tonali in midfield and I'd switch it to a 4-4-2 meaning Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy are deployed as more accustomed flankers in midfield.
And for me it's time to play Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade together which would throw Chelsea a bit. We know that they can and with Wissa now fit again, what are we waiting for?
Lee's team: Ramsdale, Miley, Thiaw, Schar, A Murphy, Bruno, Tonali, Gordon, Murphy, Wissa, Woltemade
Sean McCormick
Newcastle's defensive injury crisis is such that I would take no chances on Lewis Hall if he is suffering some hamstring tightness. Alex Murphy should be handed his full debut at left-back to allow Hall to recover ahead of a bruising run of fixtures.
Sandro Tonali should come back into the midfield and, like Hall, I wouldn't risk Joelinton in midfield as Newcastle continue to nurse his injury.
And given the tight turnaround from Wednesday's win over Fulham I would rotate the entire front three to keep everyone as fresh and as fit as possible.
Sean's team: Ramsdale; Miley, Thiaw, Schar, A Murphy; Guimaraes, Tonali, Ramsey; Elanga, Gordon; Woltemade
Ross Gregory
Eddie Howe will be counting the fit defenders in when they arrive at St James' Park, fingers and toes crossed that there's been no other scares overnight.
Lewis Hall should be ok to start, you'd hope, and there's six days until the Boxing Day game so probably worth pushing him. And in midfield, I though Jacob Ramsey did ok against Fulham so would give him a start alongside Bruno Guimaraes and hand Sandro Tonali a return.
Up front, there's an argument to change the entire frontline from Wednesday but there's also an argument that Anthony Elanga should be nowhere near the starting XI at the moment with his form and confidence rock bottom, so if Jacob Murphy is OK (he's been managing a niggle) I'd start him. If not, Harvey Barnes.
Sean's team: Ramsdale; Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Ramsey; Murphy, Gordon; Woltemade