Newcastle United's Harvey Barnes and head coach Eddie Howe
Newcastle United's Harvey Barnes and head coach Eddie Howe
Newcastle United's trip to West Ham United is a pivotal Premier League clash for the Magpies. With Champions League qualification a real target, every point counts as the run-in gathers pace.
Howe has a huge selection dilemma on his hands. He has addressed the issue of playing a weakened team when asked by the Chronicle, and has made his stance pretty clear on resting players. There remain slight fitness doubts over Alexander Isak, Tino Livramento and Kieran Trippier, while the injury setbacks to Sven Botman and Lewis Hall, plus Anthony Gordon's suspension, have thrown a spanner in the works.
Add into the mix Sunday's massive Carabao Cup final with Liverpool at Wembley looming large and there is plenty to think about. It hasn't been a good week for Newcastle with results over the weekend dropping them to nith in the table, on top of the injury and suspension blows.
Lots to ponder for the Magpies manager, and our ChronicleLive writers give their verdict on the potential starting XI.
Lee Ryder
Forget the Carabao Cup final for a moment (I know that is hard) but Newcastle's Champions League bid could be on the cusp of slipping away if we aren't careful.
That means Eddie Howe needs to go strong at the London Stadium against a West Ham side on the up. I heard a story that the West Ham players had been told the Arsenal team man for man alongside their strengths and weaknesses recently.
If that's true, the Hammers may have already had a file shared on Newcastle. The Magpies looked weary towards the end of the Brighton game and even for the equaliser there were too many players trotting back and out of position hence Kieran Trippier's fury.
Martin Dubravka stays in for me and Kieran Trippier's inclusion should be a welcome one. I'd keep Tino Livramento at left-back. Joelinton in midfield with Bruno and Sandro Tonali. Harvey Barnes to get his chance alongside Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy.
Starting XI: Dubravka, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Joelinton, Bruno, Tonali, Barnes, Murphy, Isak.
Ciaran Kelly
This is a crucial fixture in its own right in the race for the Champions League so I would go as strong as possible and, effectively, pick the side that will also line up at Wembley on Sunday. Tino Livramento again gets the nod at left-back while Kieran Trippier also keeps his place on the opposite flank.
The big selection call is who lines up on the left in Anthony Gordon's absence. Harvey Barnes has been waiting for his chance in his natural position, but the forward has just one goal involvement since Newcastle last played West Ham back in November.
Barnes has been at his best as an impact player, for me, and that is a crucial role given the paucity of forward options Newcastle have in reserve to change games. I would move Joelinton out to the left, where the Brazil international has stepped up in big games over the years, and start Joe Willock, which gives the Magpies the flexibility of the pair swapping positions in-game.
Starting XI: Dubravka, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Tonali, Bruno, Willock, Murphy, Isak, Joelinton
Aaron Stokes
Eddie Howe insists there will be no wholesale tinkering at the London Stadium, despite the Carabao Cup final looming six days later. With that in mind, it's fair to expect a strong XI in the capital.
For me, Martin Dubravka should be in between the sticks - both on Monday and at Wembley. The back four picks itself, with Kieran Trippier (R) and Tino Livramento (L) either side of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn.
It's a midfield three of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton, while in attack it's Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy picking up their usual positions. On the left, in the absence of Anthony Gordon, I'd opt for Harvey Barnes - who has a lot to prove but also the ideal opportunity to firmly nail down a Carabao Cup final start.
Starting XI: Dubrava, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Barnes
Ross Gregory
What I'd do and what Eddie Howe will do, I feel, are two completely different things. Personally, I'd be ringing the changes and protecting key players ahead of the cup final, while Howe has already said he won't do that.
I'd not start Tino Livramento as he's crucial to the chances at Wembley. Same with Sandro Tonali and Alexander Isak. I know Newcastle slipped to ninth in the table after the weekend games, and a win over West Ham will take them into sixth, but that's just how I see it.
Callum Wilson has a fine record against West Ham and needs gametime. I'd have him leading the line with Harvey Barnes also looking to get some form. Joelinton needs minutes and there's be a place in the starting XI for Emil Krafth, who has never let Newcastle down.
Players can get injured in training but for me, this feels like the best way of guaranteeing some key men are fit for the final, while still having enough in the team to beat a West Ham side which will be well set up by Graham Potter, but who are still beatable.
Starting XI: Dubravka, Trippier, Krafth, Burn, Targett; Bruno, Miley, Joelinton; Murphy, Wilson, Barnes
Matty Hewitt
Newcastle know they can't afford to lose more ground in the race for Champions League football after a couple of disappointing results in the Premier League.
The Magpies are still only three points adrift of Man City in fourth, having lost three of their last five games. After disappointing defeats against Fulham and Bournemouth, Eddie Howe knows all too well his side can't afford to drop more points against a side in the bottom half of the table.
As I've said in previous weeks, I'd bring Martin Dubravka back into the side in place of Nick Pope, while the back four pretty much picks itself. Although Joelinton returned to action against Brighton in the FA Cup, I'd be tempted to rest him for the cup final.
Isak, if fit, should start up front with Callum Wilson a great option to come off the bench, especially given his goal scoring record against the Hammers.
Starting XI: Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Willock, Bruno, Tonali; Barnes, Murphy, Isak.