Newcastle face local rivals Sunderland at St James’ Park, which is going to be one of the most important Tyne-Wear derbies in history.
Newcastle failed to get three points in the new manager’s first game in charge as they were defeated 1-0 by Premier League leaders Leicester City. Despite the defeat, there were encouraging signs of improvement, given Rafa Benitez only worked with his new team for three days.
Newcastle, Sunderland and Norwich are battling to keep their premier league status and only one place is available. Newcastle are only one point behind Sunderland and Norwich and a win on Sunday could take Newcastle out of the relegation zone depending on how Norwich get on.
As the big derby approaches, we have decided to predict the starting line-up, because Newcastle are clearly struggling to score goals, we are predicting Rafa will go with the old-fashioned 4-4-2 formation in an attempt to get three points.
GK - Rob Elliot
Elliot has been one of the stand out performers for Newcastle and when Krul does return to fitness he faces a massive battle to get back into the line-up.
RB - Daryl Janmaat
Janmaat will stay in as right-back but as Benitez tries to organise the defence then Janmaat needs to learn to stay back more often.
CB - Steven Taylor
Rafa Benitez doesn’t have much choice but to field the defender as injuries are limiting who he can choose as Chancel Mbemba’s still ruled out.
CB - Fabricio Coloccini
It’s touch and go for the club captain but he is needed (believe it or not) as injuries have mounted up. It would be good to have the experienced defender for such an important match.
LB - Jack Colback
Jack Colback seems to be the only option for Rafa at the moment and played reasonably well in this position against Leicester.
RM - Andros Townsend
Think it’s time that Moussa Sissoko was taken away from the wing and a natural winger in Andros Townsend was given the opportunity.
CM - Jonjo Shelvey
Jonjo Shelvey has to be one of the first players on the team sheet at the moment and is more than capable of running the show in the midfield.
CM - Moussa Sissoko
With Shelvey likely to sit back and spray balls around the pitch, Sissoko will be allowed to bomb forward and help the attackers.
LM - Gini Wijnaldum
Wijnaldum has been influential in many home games this season and he can be the hero in this derby as long as he turns up and doesn’t disappear like in many away games this campaign.
ST - Aleksander Mitrovic
His passion, his presence and his all-round play is going to be massive, he will give the Sunderland defenders one hell of a game and will battle for every ball.
ST - Seydou Doumbia
Doumbia hasn’t been given much of a chance since joining the club in January but if given the opportunity he can run between the lines and feed off Mitrovic’s hold up play. Between them Sunderland will struggle to cope.