Our final pre-season friendly of the summer kicks off at 4pm today, and it’s become fairly clear who will now be starting against Atletico Madrid at 4pm.
Eddie Howe selected one 11 for last night’s 2-2 draw with Espanyol and will pick a completely different starting XI today, giving all of his senior squad and some of our talented youngsters a fair chance to impress.
Here is the side he picked yesterday and the two possible Newcastle XIs we expect to start today, and why:
**Newcastle XI vs Espanyol** (4-3-3): _Ramsdale – Krafth, Schar, Burn, Hall – Bruno, Miley, Targett – Murphy, Osula, Seung-soo (Subbed on: Neave, Harrison)._
**Likely Newcastle X vs Atletico Madrid:**
(4-3-3): _Pope – Trippier, Lascelles, Botman, Livramento– Hernes, Tonali Joelinton – Elanga, Gordon, Barnes._
(4-3-3): _Pope – Livramento, Lascelles, Botman, A. Murphy – Trippier, Tonali, Joelinton – Elanga, Gordon, Barnes._
We’re pretty on 10 of the 11, but could easily be Trippier on the right side of a midfield three, with Livramento at right-back and Irish defender Alex Murphy at left-back if Howe opts against starting youngster Travis Hernes.
Alongside all 11 who started in last night’s 7.30pm kick-off, Joe Willock will not play this afternoon after being ruled out for four to six weeks, but Sven Botman trained well on Friday and is expected to start.
We’ll see Nick Pope back in goal, almost certainly Jamaal Lascelles’ first St James’ Park start of 2025 and more than likely Travis Hernes in midfield alongside Tonali and Joelinton given our lack of current depth.
Anthony Elanga will make his first start as a Toon player on Tyneside and Anthony Gordon will be in the No. 9, with Alexander Isak ruled out, Callum Wilson sold, no striker signed and Will Osula starting yesterday.
