It’s matchday and time to predict which 11 Eddie Howe will select to take on Scott Parker’s Burnley a little later on.
Newcastle must bounce back from Tuesday’s dropped points against Spurs, while Burnley come to Tyneside second bottom, four points from safety and off the back of five straight defeats.
But who will start? This is what we’ve gone for and why…
(4-3-3): Ramsdale – Livramento, Thiaw, Schar, Hall – Bruno, Tonali, Willock – Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon.
OUT: Burn, Joelinton, Miley, Murphy and Barnes. IN: Schar, Bruno, Willock, Elanga and Gordon.
Perhaps I’m being a little ambitious to suggest five changes, but with our packed start to December and two huge games ahead next week, Howe has talked up the need to trust his squad.
This 11 would give us Gordon’s fresh legs after his impactful cameo in midweek and the addition of a few more attacking alternatives, with Burnley at home feeling like a game suited to Schar’s ball playing ability and Willock or Ramsey instead of our Brazilian spoiler, Joelinton.
Providing Joelinton does drop out, we’re backing Willock to start over Ramsey. He hasn’t started since impressing in that superb first half display at Marseille last Tuesday, while the former Aston Villa man’s only two starts in the league have come at Leeds and Brentford.
Tonali could actually benefit from a start after playing just 47 minutes of our last two games, but Howe may have no issues selecting Miley again if the Italian isn’t 100% fit, even if it would be the youngster’s third start in a week.
I would not be surprised if Burn starts, or the in-form Barnes, but rotating effectively feels vital with tough trips to Bayer Leverkusen and Sunderland to come next week.
How do you see us lining up when the team sheets are released at 1.45pm today?
