Looking at this Newcastle United team v West Ham United.
Eddie Howe’s side aiming to follow up four points from the last couple of matches, that came after four Premier League defeats in a row.
As a reminder, this was the Newcastle team v Nottingham Forest last weekend:
Pope, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Hall, Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton, Jacob Murphy, Woltemade, Osula
In his pre-match press conference on Friday, Eddie Howe said that as well as Miley, Livramento, Schar and Krafth all looking certain to be unavailable, Joelinton would be a late call as he has a minor injury.
Taking all of that into consideration…
This is my predicted Newcastle United team v Nottingham Forest:
Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Bruno, Tonali, Ramsey, Barnes, Elanga, Wissa
If the above ends up as the reality, it would mean five changes for Eddie Howe compared to the team that started against Forest.
Coming in – Trippier, Ramsey, Barnes, Elanga, Wissa
Dropping out – Burn, Joelinton, Jacob Murphy, Woltemade, Osula
I can’t see the ‘experiment’ of playing Lewis Hall on the right side continuing and I confidently predict he will be restored to left-back for the last couple of matches, with Dan Burn set to make way. Kieran Trippier surely set to have one final start at St James’ Park.
If any doubts on Joelinton then he should be on the bench at best. Jacob Ramsey unlucky to get dropped and looked really good at Forest when coming on, including a class assist for Harvey Barnes.
Speaking of which…Barnes has scored Newcastle’s last two goals, off the bench against Brighton and Forest. Must be time to put him back in when United don’t have many natural finishers.
Call me daft but I just have a feeling that Eddie Howe will go with an all different attacking trio. A surprise chance for Yoane Wissa is my opinion, plus Anthony Elanga on the right. The NUFC Head Coach has already said about giving players time on the pitch who will be still here next season, so my guesstimate is that Elanga and Wissa will fall into that category against West Ham.