It’s FA Cup day and Eddie Howe has decisions to make for the trip to Birmingham City. The fourth round clash comes quickly after the Carabao Cup semi-final at an emotional St James’ Park and will mean changes are necessary.
The Magpies expended a lot of energy on Wednesday evening in their superb 2-0 victory which sealed a return to Wembley. The intensity and workrate of the players means that Howe has already admitted he will need to give some of them a breather.
Newcastle will definitely be without Joelinton and Sven Botman. The former is going to be missing for a number of weeks with a knee injury while Dutch defender Botman picked up his own knee problem in the win over Arsenal.
Elsewhere, Nick Pope could come in and Kieran Trippier will be hoping to retain his spot in the starting XI. But who should Howe opt for? We asked our Chronicle Live team to deliver their verdict on the NUFC starting XI.
Lee Ryder
Eddie Howe has to get the balance right in this one because Birmingham are no mugs and currently on an unbeaten run that stretches back to November.
Sensing that Nick Pope needs a game after sitting out the last two Premier League games, the sensible thing to do is start with the England international and give him the opportunity to get back in the mind of the gaffer. It feels like Emil Krafth is a starter here too while there should be a freshen up in midfield.
Lewis Miley was excellent in the FA Cup third round against Bromley with a hand in two goals and a scorcher at the Gallowgate. That was a day in which Will Osula also impressed so he’d also be one of the first names on my cup team sheet along with the likes of Matt Targett, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Callum Wilson.
Starting XI: Pope, Trippier, Krafth, Burn, Targett, Longstaff, Miley, Willock, Gordon, Osula, Wilson
Aaron Stokes
Birmingham City may be a League One outfit but they’re set to storm the league and, in truth, possess players of Championship quality. Eddie Howe knows this and will ring the changes accordingly.
I think we’ll see a mix of those who triumphed against Arsenal in midweek, with some fresh faces thrown in to freshen things up. I’d say there’s about five or six possible changes in the offing.
I’d be tempted to throw Nick Pope back in, with Kieran Trippier, Emil Krafth, Fabian Schar and Lewis Hall making up the backline, despite those central options both being right-footed. In midfield, I’d keep Sandro Tonali in as the engine man, with Lewis Miley and Sean Longstaff either side.
Howe has limited options in attack but I think it could look something like Anthony Gordon on the left, William Osula on the right and Callum Wilson through the middle.
Starting XI: Pope, Trippier, Krafth, Schar, Hall; Tonali, Miley, Longstaff; Gordon, Osula, Wilson.
Ross Gregory
Eddie Howe admitted he will make changes but I wonder how many he actually will. This is a tough game, the old ‘banana skin’ fixture. Match of the Day cameras aren’t turning up just for a laugh. It has echoes of two seasons ago when the Carabao Cup run and push for a Champions League place was tempered by a dismal defeat against League One Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup.
I’d be tempted to go fairly strong still, and I think Howe will too. Botman is out, obviously, and one or two big names could do with a rest but the squad is so threadbare in some places that the likes of Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak may have to start, at least. I certainly wouldn’t be rushing Callum Wilson in. Give him 30 minutes from the bench at most.
I’d return to 4-3-3. Start Sean Longstaff over Lewis Miley and give Sandro Tonali a breather. And try and get Gordon and Isak off as soon as possible.
Starting XI: Pope, Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Hall, Longstaff, Bruno, Willock, Osula, Isak, Gordon
Matty Hewitt
The mood in camp will be high after reaching the Carabao Cup final but Newcastle shouldn’t be resting on their laurels. Birmingham City, on paper are a third tier side and the Magpies should have enough to come through the tie, but the Blues are very much a second tier side in waiting having spent millions of pounds since dropping into League One.
The FA Cup presents the Magpies with another good opportunity to win some silverware this season and the prize money for winning the competition is considerable greater than the Carabao Cup. Which is why, despite Howe saying he’ll rotate his side, I think he’ll still go pretty strong.
The game is probably too early for Callum Wilson to start from the off and I think Isak should be rested with changes most likely in defence. If Newcastle can start fast and go a few goals ahead, Howe can ring the changes up front with Wilson coming off the bench for important minutes along with the likes of Miley in midfield.
Starting XI: Pope, Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Targett, Longstaff, Guimaraes, Tonali, Willock, Osula, Gordon.
Pick your team
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