New head coach Matthias Jaissle must decide who will start in the midfield engine room against Liverpool
Newcastle United's Lewis Miley, Sean Steur, Jacob Ramsey and Aladji Bamba
Matthias Jaissle has some big decisions to make in midfield against Liverpool
It's now just five days until Newcastle United kick off their Premier League campaign against Liverpool, but just who will make Matthias Jaissle's first team selection remains shrouded in doubt.
A summer of change has left Magpies fans with plenty of questions and uncertainty heading into the new season, with the natural dose of optimism which a fresh era brings tempered by the fear of the unknown.
Newcastle's midfield has seen the most change, with regulars Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali departed. In their place have arrived young talents Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba, while United are expected to sign another, more experienced head in the near future.
They are keen on Manchester City's Nico Gonzalez, with talks reportedly opened between the two clubs over a deal which could cost around £52m
With vice-captain Joelinton ruled out through injury and Lewis Miley only just returning to action from a leg break, the debate over who starts in the United engine room against Liverpool has been a lively one.
Here, our team of NUFC writers give their verdict on who Jaissle should pick to compete in what will be a crucial area of the pitch.
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Lee Ryder
From what I have witnessed in pre-season, I'd say Jacob Ramsey looks the best bet to start as No 6 in the game against Liverpool.
Ramsey is a trusted operator already for Matthias Jaissle and has been a reassuring figure in pre-season for the Magpies, he also has the minutes in the tank.
Despite only play 45 minutes of pre-season I'd opt for Lewis Miley alongside Ramsey as the second midfielder as I think the pair can work together.
Despite Aladji Bamba having a decent game against Strasbourg and impressing in Valencia and at times in the Murrayfield game, I think he needs a watching brief against Liverpool before being thrust into the action.
Joe Willock is also in contention in terms of minutes played but I'd go for Ramsey and Miley.
Lewis Miley of Newcastle United
Lewis Miley played the first half against Leverkusen(Image: Richard Lee/Shutterstock)
Sean McCormick
This time last year, Newcastle's midfield trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton were heralded as potentially the Premier League's best.
Fast forward a year and Guimaraes and Tonali have been sold and while Joelinton has just been named as Newcastle's vice-captain, he will miss the opening couple of weeks of the season through injury.
Newcastle's options in the middle now are young and exciting but they probably need an experienced head in there alongside them, and that is what the Magpies are prioritising in the market.
As we sit here right now, though, Lewis Miley has to be the first name on the team sheet in midfield and he has to be the player Newcastle hand the keys to this season.
He has so much experience at 20 years of age and he is ready to step up as an important player this term. The question is who plays alongside him.
Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur have bright futures and Steur, particularly, has been outstanding in pre-season. But Jacob Ramsey ended last season strongly and, mistake for the goal aside, was the best player on the pitch in midfield in Sunday's draw with Strasbourg.
I would actually like to see him play further forward in Jaissle's 4-2-3-1 formation but while there is a vacuum of experience in the middle, I would go with him alongside Miley against Liverpool on Sunday.
Jacob Ramsey
Newcastle midfielder Jacob Ramsey(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Ross Gregory
The options are limited here, let's be honest. When Eddie Howe switched to more of a 4-2-3-1 formation towards the end of last season, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali were his go-to men. Now they are 'gone-to' men - one to Arsenal and the other to Spurs.
In their place, so far, have arrived Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur. Bamba has yet to fully stake his claim while Steur has looked excellent at times but still needs time to develop physically.
Lewis Miley will nail one of the places eventually but only has 45 minutes of football under his belt this pre-season. Joelinton would have been another possibility but is injured (and we can discuss the merits of whether he can actually play in a two another day).
Jacob Ramsey comes into the equation and there's a fair chance he will start against Liverpool, though I feel he is better further forward.
What Newcastle need - quickly - is a signing of steel and experience. Joao Palhinha? Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg? If they can bring one in then I'd start them immediately alongside Steur.
Newcastle United's Sean Steur
Newcastle United signed Sean Steur from Ajax(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Stuart Jamieson
It's perhaps a worrying sign of Newcastle United's recuitment so far that they approach the new season having signed two central midfielders, but still needing another.
Not only would an experienced head be likely to start against the Reds, should he sign in time, but he would probably line up alongside Lewis Miley in the strongest XI.
What does that say about Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur? They're both clearly talented, but Premier League-ready? We're about to find out.
It's a big ask for Miley to come straight into the side when he's only had 45 minutes of football in pre-season, so while he would normally be my first choice, I'm going with the new signing pair of Bamba and Steur behind Jacob Ramsey in the No 10 role.
It's bold and it's a a gamble, but I would rather see Ramsey further up the pitch and would be wary of asking too much of Miley.