Tonight, Newcastle United host Crystal Palace at St James’ Park for some Carabao Cup action.
The Toon are enduring a stellar season and find themselves in third place in the Premier League, boasting the joint-best defensive record along with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
Heading into this clash, Newcastle have not lost in nine matches and remain unbeaten in 11 home games
If the history is anything to go by, this will be a tight game. The last four fixtures between the sides have seen Newcastle emerge victorious on just one occasion, drawing two and losing one.
Injury News
Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson are the only slight concerns heading into tonight’s affair, though Howe has cleared doubts, saying this via Newcastle United’s official website:
“There’s no problems with Kieran. It always looks more than it is when the physio comes onto the pitch but he came out second-half and he was fine. As I said after the game it was my decision to take him off,” Howe said of Trippier.
On Wilson’s status heading into the tie, the boss said: “He’s OK. He’s been ill for a few days so he’s a little bit run down but we’ll see how he is again today.“
Predicted XI
This brings us to our predicted line-up for tonight’s league cup affair.
We’re predicting eleven changes from the last game against Southampton in what will make for an emphasised bout of cup rotation in preparation for the upcoming crunch affair against Chelsea.
4-3-3;
Darlow;
Manquillo, Lascelles, Dummett, Targett
Anderson, Shelvey, Joelinton;
Fraser, Wood, Saint-Maximin
Nick Pope drops to the bench, with Karl Darlow reclaiming his cup match position between the sticks.
Kieran Trippier makes way for Javier Manquillo, who has made just one appearance in the Premier League this season.
Fabian Schar, Sven Botman and Dan Burn will all be saved for the big clash against Chelsea in three days time, with Jamal Lascelles, Paul Dummett and Matt Targett expected to take their place.
Meanwhile, in midfield, Joe Willock, Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff will switch with Joelinton, Jonjo Shelvey and Elliot Anderson, who may just be granted his second start tonight.
Up top, following the theme of mass rotation, Miguel Almiron, Callum Wilson and Jacob Murphy will all drop out for the likes of Ryan Fraser, Chris Wood and Allan Saint-Maximin, who claimed an assist in his 17-minute cameo against Southampton last time out.
