Predicted Newcastle team v Fulham tonight with five changes

Looking at this Newcastle team v Fulham.

Our next match at St James’ Park.

Newcastle United looking to follow up the two wins so far in the Carabao Cup, 4-1 v Bradford and 2-0 v Spurs.

So can Eddie Howe’s side make it through to the League Cup semi-finals for a third season in four?

If so, it would mean eight wins and a draw for Newcastle United in their last nine home matches, in all competitions.

As a reminder, this was the Newcastle team v Sunderland on Sunday:

Ramsdale, Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Miley, Bruno, Gordon, Woltemade, Elanga

Eddie Howe gave an update on Tuesday, regarding injury and availability for this Fulham match.

Dan Burn joining the injury list, a list which appears to include Trippier, Krafth and Botman.

Eddie Howe said that Jamaal Lascelles has recovered from his injury and is back in group training, whilst the NUFC boss sad he hopes to have Nick Pope back in his matchday squad either tonight, or failing that, for the Chelsea match.

So where does that leave us?

This is my predicted Newcastle team v Fulham:

Pope, Livramento, Schar, Thiaw, Hall, Tonali, Joelinton, Bruno, Gordon, Wissa, Murphy

If proved correct, this would mean five changes.

IN:

Pope, Schar, Joelinton, Wissa, Murphy

OUT:

Ramsdale, Burn, Miley, Woltemade, Elanga

A number of factors make me think this above could be the Newcastle team v Fulham…

Playing Sunday – Wednesday – Saturday means that something has to give, not all players can play all three matches. Yes I know, after Sunday we might not want any/many of them playing again this week!

The fact is I think, that in terms of rotation and protecting players, maybe Chelsea will see what Eddie Howe considers a weaker NUFC team put out, compared to this Fulham one.

If it had been a positive result on Sunday, then maybe things would have been different.

However, tonight a big priority for all of us – players, fans and Eddie Howe himself, where a positive performance and result is pretty essential to whether we can enjoy Christmas!

My guess is that Pope will be available AND come back into the team. It would have been a huge ask to do that in a derby.

With the players ruled out, it appears the back four picks itself. Unless Eddie Howe feels that any of them aren’t able to physically, as in, too much risk of picking up an injury. So hopefully they can all play.

I think as well as in some cases a drop in form, you have to factor in just how many games they have needed to play. In certain cases where Eddie Howe has had to play certain individuals carrying a knock and/or not having the normal energy levels due to fatigue.

I assume Joelinton wasn’t in a position to play on Sunday and that now with a few more days passing he can start. Tonali subbed on 59 minutes against Sunderland with probably this game in mind, at least to an extent. Gordon as well was subbed off at that point and whilst he was poor on Sunday, the previous three games he had played well. I think Eddie Howe will want him on from the start.

I can’t imagine Elanga starting and so Jacob Murphy to play on the right.

I don’t think either of our strikers will be able to play a full 90 tonight, Wissa still building up fitness and Woltemade having had to start far too many games. I think they will play a half each and so just a guess that Wissa will do the first and Big Nick the second. Possibly a bit of an overlap if things aren’t going well by the time we get to the break.

Eddie Howe, in my opinion, set to keep Harvey Barnes back and introduce him with one of the strikers for the second half to refresh the attack and hopefully help avoid any more injuries.