Eddie Howe's side will take a five-goal lead into the second leg of their Champions League play-off against Qarabag
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has some big calls to make(Image: Getty Images)
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Eddie Howe is far to professional to admit it, but Newcastle United's Champions League play-off with Qarabag is over. After a 6-1 win over the Azerbaijan side on Wednesday night, the Magpies go into next week's second leg with the game all-but done.
They know that nothing but a calamity can stop them from progressing to face either Chelsea or Barcelona in the last 16 of this season's compeition after they did the hard work in Baku.
The Magpies head coach insists he will give Qarabag the respect they deserve and not take risks by sending out a reserve side in the second leg. In truth, he couldn't even if he wanted, with options to rotate in key areas thin on the ground.
However, there is scope to give some players a well-earned rest inbetween Premier League games against Manchester City and Everton, while also handing youngsters the chance to show what they can do at first-team level.
With that in mind, here are five big changes Howe could make when Qarabag come to St James' Park.
Leo Shahar
Kieran Trippier has earned a break after some excellent performances in recent weeks. Shahar is very well thought of at United, and although he will have his work cut out against the lively Abdellah Zoubir, the pressure will be well and truly off.
With Tino Livramento injured, and Lewis Hall also in need of another break, giving Shahar his first appearance would be the ideal solution.
Alex Murphy
Whether it's at centre-back or at left-back, Murphy can build on his early United appearances with a full start in this one. As with Trippier, Lewis Hall could benefit from a midweek break, although Irishman Murphy could also be used in the centre of defence with Malick Thiaw suspended.
Aaron Ramsdale
Ramsdale started againsr Aston Villa in the FA Cup and Man City in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, and so you would expect him to come in between the posts next week.
While he's not done enough to convince Howe to keep him as his regular shot-stopper, Ramsdale will be aware of the need for a good performance with his future in the air this summer. With changes elsewhere, this one feels like a safe decision.
Sean Neave
Will Osula will probably be further up the pecking order than Neave, who made his first senior appearance for United in the second half in Baku. Osula deserves the chance, in all fairness, but you could argue it's the ideal time for Neave to show what he can do.
He has scored plenty of goals at Under-21 level but has yet to be tested in senior football, and with so little at stake, this feels like the right time. Certainly another appearance from the bench would be the least he should get.
Park Seung-Soo
United have plenty of options on the flanks, but after he came back into the squad at Aston Villa in the FA Cup, could Howe spring a surprise by handing the South Korean his debut.
He caught the eye in pre-season, and if given the licence to run at the Qarabag defence, he could cause them a few problems. It would certainly grab the headlines in the Far East too.
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