Looking at this Newcastle team v Aston Villa.
Eddie Howe’s side aiming to follow up the Spurs midweek win in the Premier League.
Now attention shifting to the FA Cup.
Eddie Howe looking to pick a Newcastle United team v Aston Villa that can take NUFC into the fifth round.
The fact this cup-tie is away from home at Villa Park, gives added difficulty as United look for a place in the last 16 of the competition.
As a reminder, this was the Newcastle team v Spurs four nights ago:
Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Ramsey, Bruno, Willock, Barnes, Elanga, Gordon
On Friday, Eddie Howe said that Joelinton could be back soon and that Tino Livramento was making good progress, hopefully returning in March.
However, for this Aston Villa match, Eddie Howe set to be without Bruno, Schar, Tino, Krafth, Miley and Joelinton.
Indeed, news on Saturday morning in the media that Bruno Guimaraes could be out for a couple of months.
Taking all of that into consideration…
This is my predicted Newcastle team v Aston Villa:
Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Ramsey, Tonali, Willock, Barnes, Elanga, Gordon
If the above ends up as the reality, it would mean two changes for Eddie Howe compared to the team that started against Spurs.
With coming in – Hall, Tonali
Dropping out – Burn, Bruno
I would be amazed if Hall and Tonali don’t come back into the team after having been given a bit of a rest on Tuesday.
I think at the back it will be Hall for Burn, unless Eddie Howe switches to three central defenders.
Dan Burn pretty much always starts when available but I have a feeling that the United boss will be looking for a bit of continuity in the middle of defence and staying with Botman alongside Thiaw. Whilst at left-back, Lewis Hall is obviously one of United’s best players and gives NUFC so much going forward, as well as in defence.
Eddie Howe did give Aaron Ramsdale a game away at Manchester City in the Carabao Cup semi-final and indeed, in the FA Cup third round win against Bournemouth, when the loan keeper did so well in the penalty shootout. However, my money is again on Eddie Howe wanting some continuity in this run of huge matches, including the Champions League play-off, so Nick Pope to start.
Sandro Tonali looks set to come in for Bruno and with no other available midfielders, difficult to see Eddie Howe not picking Willock and Ramsey once again, especially as they both played well at Spurs.
Up front is an interesting one.
Certainly for away matches, if Eddie Howe wants as much pace and mobility as possible, the trio of Elanga, Barnes and Gordon is increasingly looking the best option. It worked well at Spurs and also really well at Liverpool the opening 40 minutes, until a defensive collapse.
My money is on Eddie Howe sticking with this trio and formation against Aston Villa.
Nick Woltemade played really well up front against PSG, as indeed the whole team did. My guess is that Big Nick will start away at Qarabag on Wednesday, whilst today at Villa, both he and Yoane Wissa very likely to come off the bench and hopefully see out a win.
At least Eddie Howe and his team have had four days since the Spurs game, then have the same gap after today before the Qarabag away match. I think that gives Howe that extra little bit of leeway to play the same players in games, as opposed to if there were only three days between fixtures.