Matthias Jaissle has some big selections to make for the Carabao Cup tie
Lee Ryder Chief Newcastle United Writer, Sean McCormick Newcastle United reporter, Andrew Musgrove Social Media Editor and Ross Gregory Head of North East Sport
Nick Woltemade(Image: Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Newcastle United are back in cup action this evening when Championship side West Bromwich Albion come to St James' Park for the first knockout game of the Matthias Jaissle regime.
Newcastle had a strong record in the Carabao Cup under Eddie Howe, famously winning it in 2025 having been beaten finalists two years before that. It is a competition United have taken seriously and Jaissle will want to make his mark too.
With that in mind, the strength of his starting XI will be interesting. There is the option for the German to rotate almost the entire team, resting all of those who starred in the hard-fought 2-2 draw with Liverpool at the weekend. But with the new head coach still wanting to embed his style of play on the team, and build momentum, he may opt to make relatively few changes.
William Osula picked up an injury against Liverpool, while U21 stars Sean Neave, Leo Shahar and Miodrag Pivas could come into the squad. There are also the likes of Nick Woltemade, Bazoumana Toure and Aladji Bamba who will be looking for game time.
We asked our Newcastle writers what starting XI they would pick.
Lee Ryder
Matthias Jaissle was cautious when asked how he would go about his first Carabao Cup campaign at St James' Park, refusing to get swept into any rash statements on trophy glory. Even when he was offered a glimpse of the immortality that winning this competition could bring, Jaissle played things cool.
Whether his team sheet will prove to be his loudest statement remains to be seen because he is not exactly afraid to give the kids their chance. Starting Sean Steur and Lewis Miley against the once mighty Liverpool was a big call at the weekend so blooding more youngsters won't exactly cause shockwaves against West Brom!
For all that, some of his young stars need game-time and there is a big debate on what role Nick Woltemade will play.
I'd hand the likes of Mason Miley and Miodrag Pivas a shot in defence, as well as Dylan Charlton who did well in pre-season. Bazamouna Toure and Aladji Bamba have the perfect chance to make home bows and I'd get minutes out of Woltemade regardless of where he is played.
This is a great chance for Sean Neave to make a senior start and I'd back him to be oozing with confidence if he gets the chance to start.
My starting XI: Jaouen; Mason Miley, Schar, Pivas, Charlton, Bamba, Ramsey, Toure, Woltemade, J Murphy, Neave
Sean McCormick
Newcastle made a really positive start to the Matthias Jaissle era against Liverpool on Sunday and they need to keep that momentum rolling this evening.
But they also need to get minutes into the legs of players who didn't start against the Reds and give them a chance to impress the boss. Certainly at the back they haven't got the senior options to rotate so Sven Botman and Lewis Hall should retain their places in the side but I would make nine changes.
Ewen Jaouen, Leo Shahar, Aladji Bamba and Bazoumana Toure should be handed full debuts and the likes of Fabian Schar and Jacob Ramsey should be handed chances from the start.
Jacob Murphy and Joe Willock will start and as the transfer deadline grows closer the chances of it being their final appearance for the club increases.
Nick Woltemade should start up front and it feels like a big night for the German international. He was completely unused on Sunday on a day where Willock, Yoane Wissa and Will Osula all impressed and he needs to show Jaissle something to give him encouragement he can shine under him this season.My starting XI: Jaouen; Shahar, Schar, Botman, Hall; Bamba, Ramsey; Murphy, Willock, Toure; Woltemade
Andrew Musgrove
I am torn. I can understand the calls for rotation, and with a couple of injuries to deal with, Matthias Jaissle will be forced into changing his XI beyond perhaps what he would have wanted.
But for those who are fit - I think you have to play a team as close to the one which started against Liverpool.
It's all about momentum - and with a new manager and new ideas, the best way to find that momentum is through the consistency of the starting XI. You don't want to disrupt the flow of the team or individuals who need a good start, like Anthony Elanga.
The big focus is on Nick Woltemade. A large part of me wouldn't pick him but if he doesn't start, I worry that the writing is on the wall for him. But there's a real dilemma is he is picked from the start, especially in the same system as we saw against Liverpool - it just won't work for him either as a striker or a No 10.
I think Jaissle will rotate. I think you may see youngsters like Ewan Jaouen, Leo Shahar and Miodrag Pivas get a start, and I do think he'll play Woltemade too. If it was me? The only changes I'd be making would on fitness. For example, is Lewis Miley fit enough to play three games in a week? Injuries don't give Jaissle too many options up top either!
My starting XI: Hornicek, Dedic, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Elanga, Bamba, Ramsey, Toure, Willock, Wissa
Ross Gregory
The balance between momentum and rotation is a difficult one for Jaissle to get right. I'd make five changes from the team that started against Liverpool.
Out go Malick Thiaw, Lewis Miley - managing his minutes on his return from injury - Yoane Wissa, Harvey Barnes and the injured William Osula.
The defence needs to get used to playing with each other so I'd make as few changes as possible. I'd want to see Jacob Ramsey in the No 10 role and give Bazoumana Toure a start, while in attack I'd be reluctant to start Nick Woltemade as the figurehead as I'm not convinced he suits the system but given Osula's injury and Wissa's exertions on Sunday, there's little choice.
My starting XI: Hornicek, Dedic, Schar, Botman, Hall; Bamba, Steur; Elanga, Ramsey, Toure; Woltemade
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