Looking at this Newcastle United team v Leeds United.
Matthias Jaissle having made an excellent start to his NUFC career.
Only starting work five weeks ago, the new Newcastle United boss having overseen three wins and two draws in his opening five competitive United matches.
In the Premier League, a win over Tottenham and draws against Liverpool and Bournemouth.
Plus progress to the last 16 of the Carabao Cup thanks to wins over West Brom and Millwall.
Matthias Jaissle’s side aiming to now make it eight points from a possible twelve as they take on Leeds at 8pm on Monday night.
As a reminder, this was the Newcastle team v Millwall on Tuesday night:
Hornicek, Dedic, Schar, Botman, Hall, Ramsey, Gonzalez, Willock, Barnes, Murphy, Wissa
Matthias Jaissle made three changes from the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth, with Schar, Murphy and Ramsey replacing Thiaw, Elanga and Lewis Miley.
For Monday night it appears that William Osula and Dan Burn will both definitely be missing.
However, we could potentially see both Joelinton and Ewen Jaouen available once again.
Amar Dedic was subbed off at half-time on Tuesday night with Matthias Jaissle describing it as having done so as a precaution, due to the right-back having felt something with his hamstring. Tino Livramento was his half-time replacement but ahead of the Millwall match the manager had said that Tino wasn’t going to be considered yet as starter due to still recovering from a long-term injury.
Taking all of that into consideration, in my opinion….
This is my predicted Newcastle United team v Leeds United:
Hornicek, Dedic, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Lewis Miley, Gonzalez, Elanga, Barnes, Willock, Wissa
If my prediction proved correct, this would be Matthias Jaissle reverting back to the eleven that started against both Spus and Bournemouth.
Elanga will come back in for sure, especially as Murphy was poor at Millwall.
Jacob Ramsey did okay in midweek but Lewis Miley set to come back into the team in my opinion.
The same with Malick Thiaw. Fabian Schar was one of the best performers at Millwall but the Germany international is now first choice.
At right-back I think it all revolves around Amar Dedic. If he is fit then I think he starts, if not then it will be Tino Livramento if Matthias Jaissle judges him now fully ready to start matches again.
If the manager decided that he couldn’t play either of the pair, he then of course also has the option of playing Lewis Miley at right-back. The midfielder filled in brilliantly there for a run of games last season and the United boss has the likes of Ramsey, Steur, Aladji and potentially Joelinton that he could play alongside Gonzalez in midfield.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo is the other big talking point. Only a matter of time before he is starting regularly. Matthias Jaissle has said he will only play MFP when he things the 21-year-old is ready to do so. The manager clearly wants pace up top and ideally have Yoane Wissa playing behind a centre-forward, so if Osula had been available then I think he would be in that main striker role. MFP can play any position across the forward line and he has blinding pace, on balance though I think Matthias Jaissle will use him off the bench for a while longer.