Eddie Howe is weighing up changes for today’s Premier League game with Bournemouth at St James’ Park
Newcastle’s Tino Livramento
After the disappointing defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend, Newcastle United head coach could make any number of changes to his starting line-up for today’s game with Bournemouth at St James’ Park.
With Joelinton suspended, he will have to make changes in midfield, although Bruno Guimaraes’ participation will depend on medical advice how he coped with training on Friday.
Howe fielded a young side at Selhurst Park, but could turn to some experienced names today, with Dan Burn and Kieran Trippier hoping for a recall.
With that in mind, here are the starting line-ups our team of Newcastle United writers would pick for this afternoon’s game, and your chance to name your XI.
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Lee Ryder
Risking Bruno Guimaraes at this stage of the season makes no sense whatsoever – but it’s the dilemma facing Eddie Howe this weekend.
Personally, he’d not get further than the subs bench for me and if Newcastle need a hero maybe get him on for the last 20 minutes. If not I’d stick with Sandro Tonali in midfield as my talisman and have Jacob Ramsey and Joe Willock around him with Joelinton banned.
At the back Tino Livramento’s performance against Crystal Palace was worthy of being dropped but can Kieran Trippier cope with the raw power that Bournemouth have in their ranks? Even then his leadership and guidance would be welcome.
In attack I’d get Nick Woltemade back to being a striker again, bench Jacob Murphy and recall Anthony Elanga and give Harvey Barnes a go on the left with Anthony Gordon on the bench.
Dan Burn walks straight back in the team ahead of Sven Botman after Sunday’s struggles.
My NUFC XI: Ramsdale, Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Ramsey, Willock, Barnes, Elanga, Woltemade.
Sean McCormick
As much as Eddie Howe and Bruno Guimaraes will be desperate for the midfielder to play, the fact there are still doubts over his involvement this afternoon would suggest a place on the bench would be the sensible move this afternoon.
With Joelinton suspended, that would open the door for Jacob Ramsey to replace the suspended Joelinton in midfield. Defensively, there are some decisions to make.
Newcastle looked soft at the back and in a game where it is high stakes for the manager, I feel he may bring in the experience of Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn over Tino Livramento and Sven Botman, who were both culpable for goals last weekend.
Jacob Murphy struggled last weekend so Anthony Elanga could get a recall on the right-hand side and despite speculation over his future this week, Anthony Gordon remains Newcastle’s best option on the left-wing.
Will Osula is probably favourite to keep his place up front but a player Newcastle so nearly parted with last summer and who looks so far from the finished article almost two years since joining the club should not be the long term answer up front.
Nick Woltemade and/or Yoane Wissa need a chance to prove themselves in the last six games of the season and given Wissa has scored more against Bournemouth than any other Premier League side during his career, now feels as good a time as any to give him that chance.
My NUFC XI: Ramsdale; Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Miley, Tonali, Ramsey; Elanga, Gordon; Wissa
Ross Gregory
Newcastle need to be careful with Bruno. Of course the player wants to be involved and I’m sure Eddie Howe is desperate to get his talisman back given the pressure building but I’d use him from the bench. With Joelinton suspended, I’d give a starting role to Jacob Ramsey instead and get 25 minutes of Bruno from the bench.
Elsewhere, several players could feasibly be left out. Barely anyone is in any form whatsoever. Livramento, Botman, Murphy and Gordon could all be axed but if we are being honest, potential replacements like Trippier, Burn, Elanga, Barnes, Woltemade and Wissa are showing very little form too. It really is a tricky one.
If I was in Howe’s shoes though, I’d want to go with experience and trust. So Trippier and Burn come back in.
The big move for me though would be to leave Will Osula out despite his goal against Palace. That may sound harsh but he’s not a long term answer for me – or even short term – so I’d restore Nick Woltemade to the No 9 role.
My NUFC XI: Ramsdale; Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Miley, Ramsey; Elanga, Woltemade, Barnes
Stuart Jamieson
While it’s tempting to bring Bruno Guimaraes straight into the side, I would err on the side of caution and start him on the bench, with Jacob Ramsey replacing the suspended Joelinton.
There aren’t many players who should be confident of keeping their place, but options for change are limited. Dan Burn deserves a recall but I would rather allow Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman the time to build a relationship on the pitch, while I see no point in recalling Kieran Trippier, even though Tino Livramento has done little to justify his place.
It feels like Howe is just swapping Anthony Elanga and Jacob Murphy in the hope one of them does something, so I’m going for Anthony Gordon on the right with Harvey Barnes left, and Nick Woltemade in the central striker role.
My NUFC XI: Ramsdale, Livamento, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Tonali, Miley, Ramsey, Gordon, Barnes, Woltemade.
Pick your NUFC XI
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