Newcastle United take on Manchester City in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg
Newcastle United's Nick Woltemade arrives at Wolves in the club's 1995-96 away kit
Newcastle United's Nick Woltemade arrives at Wolves in the club's 1995-96 away kit(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Image)
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It's win or bust for Newcastle United. And win by two clear goals as well. Easier said than done at the Etihad, where they barely score never mind come away with a victory.
If the record at Anfield is poor, the run of form at Manchester City isn't much better which makes tonight's Carabao Cup semi-final second leg team selection so tricky for Eddie Howe. He has to keep it tight at one end but knows he needs to score at least twice at the other.
Bruno Guimaraes and Lewis Miley are unlikely to be fit, joining Joelinton on the sidelines. Fabian Schar, Emil Krafth and Tino Livramento complete the list of walking wounded. In some ways, their absences make the selection easier although Howe will still have a number of dilemmas.
Our team of writers pick their Newcastle starting XI for tonight's game.
Lee Ryder
Newcastle United need to make the most of what is still an opportunity in front of them, even if it might lead to some tired bodies ahead of the weekend clash with Brentford.
What is the point in reaching the semi-finals of any competition and then giving up at half-time? That's why I hope Eddie Howe goes as strong as he can at the Etihad Stadium.
I'd still make a few changes and look to play a similar formation to the one away to PSG recently. That night what was essentially at 5-4-1 formation worked in attack and defensively.
My NUFC XI: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Ramsey, Gordon, Elanga, Wissa
Sean McCormick
The back five worked a treat against PSG and I think that's the way to go at the Etihad. Newcastle can’t afford to concede goals but need to score at least two to have any chance of progressing to the final. So they need to be hard to break down and devastating on the counter. The back five picks itself with the current injury situation and the midfield pair of Sandro Tonali and Jacob Ramsey will offer the most control. The pace of Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon in behind will be huge and Nick Woltemade’s ability to come deep to create spaces for Newcastle’s wide men could be key in this system.Joe Willock, Harvey Barnes, Jacob Murphy and Yoane Wissa are all solid options to bring off the bench in that system, too.
My NUFC XI: Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Ramsey; Elanga, Gordon; Woltemade
Ross Gregory
Five at the back is the way to go - but it could be that Jacob Murphy is better suited to the right wing-back role than Kieran Trippier. I love Tripps but not sure he has the legs to get up and down in that formation.
The two midfielders pick themselves given Bruno, Miley and Joelinton's injuries but up top is the interesting one. The front three selected against PSG worked well and I'm not sure Joe Willock deserves to be left out, but if you need goals then Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes surely have to play too. Or would you recall Yoane Wissa or Nick Woltemade. There's certainly option there and I don't think my choice will match Eddie Howe's.
My NUFC XI: Pope; J Murphy, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Ramsey; Elanga, Willock; Gordon
Stuart Jamieson
It's not a comfortable truth, but Newcastle need to prioritise their Premier League form for the remainder of the season, and that means risking no one tonight. No one wants to admit defeat before kick-off, but six points against Brentford and Spurs are more important, for me.
That said, I would switch to a 4-4-2 tonight, with Jacob Ramsey and Sandro Tonali in central midfield, and Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon offering width. It's an ideal time to try Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa together, but instead of the German dropping deep, he must lead the line and allow Wissa to work off him.
My NUFC XI: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Ramsey, J Murphy, Gordon, Woltemade, Wissa
Lee Ryder
Lee Ryder