Looking at this Newcastle team v Chelsea.
Our next match at St James’ Park and the last NUFC game before Christmas.
Newcastle United looking to make it five home wins out of five against Chelsea under Eddie Howe.
A win would also take United to within three points of Chelsea, who are currently fourth top.
A victory would also mean nine wins and a draw for Newcastle United in their last ten home matches, in all competitions.
As a reminder, this was the Newcastle team v Fulham on Wednesday:
Ramsdale, Livramento, Thiaw, Schar, Ramsey, Willock, Miley, Bruno, Murphy, Barnes, Wissa
Eddie Howe gave his pre-match press conference on Friday and after that, it appears to be the case that those definitely unavailable for this Chelsea match are Tino Livramento, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Emil Krafth and Will Osula.
Jamaal Lascelles has returned to group training but it doesn’t look like he will be ready yet to be in the matchday squad.
Joelinton has been an unused sub the last two matches and Eddie Howe says he has a groin issue and was only to be used in an emergency these past two games. With a rare six days between this game and the away Man U one, you can’t imagine Joelinton will be considered as a starter today, so set to be on the bench again as he is given time to get right.
More positive news is that Nick Pope and Lewis Hall are likely set to return to the matchday squad.
So where does that leave us?
This is my predicted Newcastle team v Chelsea:
Ramsdale, Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall, Tonali, Willock, Bruno, Murphy, Gordon, Woltemade
If proved correct, this would mean four changes.
IN:
Woltemade, Hall, Tonali, Gordon
OUT:
Livramento, Ramsey, Barnes, Wissa
With only around 62 hours between the midweek Fulham match hearing the final whistle and this Chelsea one kicking off, Eddie Howe made six outfield changes for that cup match compared to the team that started against Sunderland only three days before that quarter-final.
A crazy number of matches and Eddie Howe having to take calculated gambles, clearly intending to try and have a stronger team available to face Chelsea.
Even if Nick Pope does return to the squad today, my gut feeling is that Ramsdale will stay in for this one.
Assuming Lewis Hall is available, the defence appears to pick itself, due to the injury list. With Miley again set to play right-back.
Bruno Guimaraes has incredible stamina and energy reserves that allow him to start almost every match. He looks set to lead the team as usual, whilst Tonali will come back in after Eddie Howe gave him a rest in midweek, the Italy international seemingly feeling the benefit of that when coming off the bench to help United get past Fulham.
Nick Woltemade also looked sharper than recently, as he too came off the bench the same time as Sandro Tonali. I think we will see the two strikers taking turns in the starting eleven, maybe sometime both of them in the same team, though not today.
I would be amazed if Gordon doesn’t return and whilst he was poor at Sunderland, along with most others, he had played well the three previous matches. Murphy you assume will stay on the right.
Lewis Miley would have played in midfield I think, but as he is needed in defence, it looks a toss up between Ramsey and Willock to fill the other midfield spot. Most likely Willock I think, though no surprise either if Eddie Howe goes for the former Aston Villa player.