Predicted Newcastle team v Sunderland on Sunday

Looking at this Newcastle team v Sunderland.

Our next match in the Premier League.

Newcastle United looking to make it 13 points from five games in the league.

Which would guarantee United ending the weekend in the top half of the table, potentially as high as seventh.

Eddie Howe’s side facing a team that have won only one of their last six Premier League matches.

As a reminder, this was the Newcastle team v Bayer Leverkusen:

Ramsdale, Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Joelinton, Bruno, Tonali, Gordon, Barnes, Woltemade

Eddie Howe gave this Newcastle United injury and availability ahead of today’s Sunderland match,

Official Newcastle United injury update from Eddie Howe – 10 December 2025:

“I am not sure yet whether we will have anyone back [for this Sunderland match].

“There is uncertainty because we’ve still got a couple of days to see how things play out.

“I haven’t really been in contact with these guys for a few days, having travelled out to Germany.”

Eddie Howe on Nick Pope 

“We will have to wait and see [on Nick Pope’s availability for Sunderland].

“I think Nick is the closest of all the players who are currently out.

“But I’m not sure quite how he feels, we’ll have to see.”

Eddie Howe on Yoane Wissa who has been struggling with illness this week

“Yoane can start, but whether he is physically able to and quite how long he can play…are other questions.

“He had a bit of illness earlier in the week, hence why he only got a few minutes [against Bayer Leverkusen].

“That was unfortunate because he was going in the right direction.

“That was a bit of a knockback there but we are all back in training on Thursday and he will get some work.

“Then we will see how he is.”

Eddie Howe on Joelinton who was subbed off against Bayer Leverkusen

“It looks like a groin issue with him.

“Although I don’t know how serious it is at this moment in time.”

It looks like Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier and Will Osula are unavailable once again.

Whilst from what Eddie Howe says, it remains to be seen whether Joelinton and/or Nick Pope will be available for selection this afternoon.

So taking all of that into consideration…

This is my predicted Newcastle team v Sunderland:

Pope, Livramento, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton, Gordon, Woltemade, Murphy

If the above ends up as the reality, it would mean two changes for Eddie Howe.

Pope and Murphy replacing Ramsdale and Barnes.

My guess is that Nick Pope will be back available AND will play.

I think Aaron Ramsdale has done ok BUT not made it impossible for Eddie Howe to go back to his usual first choice keeper. Pope made some mistakes and it felt like nearly every time they were then punished with a goal conceded. Maybe not the worst thing that he has had a few weeks out of the firing line and no doubt plenty of work with Eddie and his coaches to be physically and mentally prepared if called upon today. Pope has his weaknesses BUT he is also very good in many areas, including when dealing with efforts on goal…

Lewis Miley has done well recently and no time more so than when replacing Joelinton on Wednesday night. However, I think for a game like this, Eddie Howe will definitely be wanting Joelinton on the pitch if possible. Personally, I think a bit of a smokescreen about the Brazil international potentially unavailable with a groin issue. He was having treatment on the pitch when Eddie Howe decided to replace him in midweek but Joelinton looked very unhappy at getting subbed off. I think he will be fine physically for today and I think that was more of a tactical decision at Bayer Leverkusen, with also part of Howe’s thinking that subbing Joelinton off, would mean more chance of him being fully fit for this Mackem match.

With Gordon looking close to getting back to his very best in these last three matches, he will be one of the first names on Eddies teamsheet today. As we all know, both Gordon and Barnes prefer the left side, so whilst Harvey did ok kind of on Wednesday night when playing on the right, I think Murphy plays instead.

This also means you have a fresh Harvey Barnes available to come on in the the final 20-30 minutes against a tiring team. Along with of course the likes of Yoane Wissa, who is now getting ever nearer to a position where he will be competing for a starting spot in the team.

You have seen what John’s thoughts are on the most likely Newcastle team v Sunderland, please use the comments section below to give your thoughts on which eleven you think Eddie Howe will select. Plus of course what would be your preferred starting eleven today.