Looking at this Newcastle United team v Fulham.
Eddie Howe’s side aiming to follow up seven points from the last three matches.
As a reminder, this was the Newcastle team v West Ham last weekend:
Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Bruno, Tonali, Ramsey, Barnes, Woltemade, Osula
In his pre-match press conference on Friday, Eddie Howe said that he didn’t think there was any serious issue with Sandro Tonali after the midfielder was forced off against West Ham and that he would make a decision on the player’s availability after the last couple of training sessions.
Miley, Livramento, Schar and Krafth all looking certain to be unavailable. Joelinton expected to be missing again as well.
I this this Newcastle United team prediction is a lot more straight forward than it often is.
There is nothing significant to play for in terms of Premier League titles, relegation, European places etc etc.
At the same time though, I think Eddie Howe is desperate to keep this late run of form going and do everything he can to pick up ten points from a possible twelve to end the season.
Maybe late in the game we might see some sentimentality come into when substitutions are made. However, not when we are talking about the starting eleven.
My assumption is that Eddie Howe was quite happy with most of what he saw against West Ham, the defence performing well, the team gelling together, plus at times some excellent flowing passing moves.
So in my opinion….
This is my predicted Newcastle United team v Fulham:
Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Bruno, Tonali, Ramsey, Barnes, Woltemade, Osula
As you can see, I have gone with the exact same eleven as last Sunday. If Tonali isn’t able to start, I think Eddie Howe will go with Joe Willock.