Looking at this Newcastle United team v Everton.
Matthias Jaissle and his players looking to build on last weekend’s Premier League victory at Selhurst Park.
Whilst at the same time bounce back from the Carabao Cup defeat at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Thursday.
Everton going through to the quarter-finals and a trip to League Two Fleetwood Town.
Tonight though a chance for Newcastle United to get back on track and for the Premier League table to look far better by the close of play on Monday.
A win against Everton would take Matthias Jaissle’s side up to seventh in the table with 14 points, the same number as Brentford in sixth and only a point behind Liverpool in fifth.
As a reminder, this was the Newcastle United team v Everton on Thursday night:
Hornicek, Dedic, Schar, Burn, Hall, Gonzalez, Willock, Ramsey, Barnes, Murphy, Osula
Ewen Jaouen and Tino Livramento remain unavailable.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Lewis Miley have missed recent matches, so it remains to be seen if they will be available.
William Osula is also a doubt, forced off on Thursday with a twisted ankle, the NUFC Head Coach saying it was an unknown whether the striker would be okay for this Monday night rematch.
This is my predicted Newcastle United team v Everton:
Hornicek, Dedic, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Gonzalez, Willock, Joelinton, Fernandez-Pardo, Elanga, Wissa
If I am proved correct it would mean five changes from Thursday night.
IN
Thiaw, Joelinton, Fernandez-Pardo, Elanga, Wissa
OUT
Schar, Ramsey, Barnes, Osula, Murphy
I don’t think Fabian Schar has done anything wrong but I always felt it was a temporary thing to give Malick Thiaw a break and I fancy we will see him alongside Dan Burn given a chance to try and get United more solid at the back.
I assume the medical staff wouldn’t have wanted Joelinton starting Sunday-Thursday-Monday after having only recently returned to the matchday squad. So after starting on the bench away at Everton, I think the Brazil international will return to the starting line-up tonight.
Obviously much depends on who is available tonight but I am predicting a completely different front three.
Anthony Elanga will hopefully now be able to start after his sub appearances and a no-brainer for him to replace Jacob Murphy.
I’m sure Matthias Jaissle would love to see United pressure Everton from the first whistle to try and get at them. If available I think Matias Fernandez-Pardo will replace Barnes and join Elanga in the team tonight to help do a high press. In my opinion William Osula would probably start again if available but seeing how he limped off on Thursday that looks unlikely to me. Playing MFP through the middle hasn’t been a success so far and therefore I see the Belgian on the left and Yoane Wissa returning to play through the middle if Osula is unavailable.