Newcastle United v Qarabag: Jacob Ramsey’s absence for tonight’s Champions League match has been explained.
The Magpies head into tonight’s game with a 6-1 lead over their opponents, secured courtesy of a sublime first-half performance in Baku last week where they scored five unanswered goals. With one foot in the Round of 16, Howe has made seven changes from the side that started against Manchester City at the weekend.
Aaron Ramsdale replaces Nick Pope in goal, Botman replaces the suspended Thiaw while Alex Murphy comes in for his full Newcastle debut with Lewis Hall dropping to the bench.
Joelinton comes in for the absent Jacob Ramsey and Jacob Murphy replaces Anthony Elanga, who drops to the bench. Harvey Barnes comes in for Joe Willock while William Osula comes in for Anthony Gordon up front.
NUFC starting XI: Ramsdale; Trippier, Botman, Burn, A.Murphy; Tonali, Joelinton, Woltemade; J.Murphy, Barnes, Osula
Subs: Pope, Ruddy, Harris, Hall, Wissa, Gordon, Elanga, Willock, Shahar, Neave
Jacob Ramsey’s Newcastle United v Qarabag omission revealed
One notable absence from Howe’s matchday squad is Ramsey. The former Aston Villa man has been one of their top performers in recent weeks, and started at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
After an impressive performance in Manchester, it was anticipated that he would again be named in the team tonight after being pictured in training on Monday. However, the £43m man was not picked by Howe.
Ramsey will instead sit out of tonight’s game due to a ‘slight hamstring injury’. Tonali, Willock and Woltemade will instead play in midfield tonight in Ramsey’s absence.
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Despite making a host of changes from the weekend, Howe has still named a fairly strong starting XI and, as he revealed on Monday, he won’t be taking the challenge of their Azerbaijani opponents lightly.
Malick Thiaw, meanwhile, misses out tonight due to suspension. The German had started 38 matches in a row in all competitions but will watch on from afar as his teammates play the first-ever knockout Champions League game at St James’ Park.
“Yeah, it's going to be a blow for us,” Howe told the Gazette when asked about Thiaw’s absence. “I said that when the suspension was confirmed that he had a big loss for us at the heart of our defence.
“I think Malick has been hugely impressive this season, a model of consistency. I actually think the last few games, again, has been some of his strongest of the season.
“I think he's consumed the amount of games he's played as really, really good in that sense. I think with the ball, he's come back to being at his very best level.
“I think defensively he's been superb. I think he's been an incredible signing for us. He's a great lad as well. Settled in really quickly to the group. So yeah, he'll be a miss.”
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