Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has made just one change to the starting XI following the 1-0 defeat to Arsenal last weekend.
Joelinton returns to the side after serving his two-match suspension, having picked up too many yellow cards. Former Aston Villa man Jacob Ramsey makes way for the Brazil international.
That’s potentially a harsh decision with Ramsey putting in a solid, if not spectacular performance against The Gunners. ReadNewcastle rated the midfielder a 6/10 for his efforts.
We wrote: “Nothing spectacular but part of a Newcastle midfield three who ensured the side weren’t overrun by Arsenal. Got back well to stop a dangerous Arsenal counter attack in injury time.”
Howe continues to bench striking duo Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa. The Magpies splurged more than £100 million on the duo in a bid to replace the Liverpool-bound Alexander Isak last summer.
Wissa and Woltemade have both endured underwhelming campaigns. The ex Brentford bagsman has seen his season ravaged by injury, while the German’s early purple patch of goals quickly dried up.
Speaking about Woltemade, who scored in the reverse fixture against Brighton at the AMEX Stadium, Howe said: “He’s training well. I think again he’s benefiting from the bigger sessions with 20 players that we’ve missed throughout the season and now we’re beginning to work with him on the things we feel like we needed to earlier in the season but didn’t have the opportunity to.
“I thought his pass for Yoane was sublime against Arsenal. It was great to see those two link together and looked like it could be a potential partnership for us.”
ReadNewcastle looks at the shots of first team players arriving at the stadium to take on Brighton.
Newcastle United players arrive at St James’ Park
Another match on the bench for Nick Woltemade. The £69 million talisman, who has been regularly deployed in midfield in recent weeks, begins to be linked with a move away this summer.
Bruno Guimaraes returned to the starting XI for the first time since his injury against Arsenal last weekend. The captain needs to demand more from his teammates today.
Malick Thiaw has potentially been the one real positive for Newcastle United this term and looks worth every pound of the £35 million paid to AC Milan last summer.
Anthony Gordon is never far from a headline right now. Frustratingly, that’s due to transfer links with Arsenal and Bayern Munich. The winger returns from a hip injury to make the bench – he scored his first ever professional goals against Brighton for Everton.
Dan Burn keeps his place in the starting XI. The England international is preferred over Lewis Hall in a decision which could frustrate Magpies supporters.
Joelinton cuts a relaxed figure as he arrives at St James’ Park. The powerful midfielder will have fresh legs, having not featured in the previous two.
What does the future hold for Lewis Miley? A surprise exclusion from the XI again, the former Chelsea man won’t be short of suitors this summer.
In other news, Newcastle United Team News: Eddie Howe drops £43m man as Woltemade decision made v Brighton.
