Predicted Newcastle team v Burnley with three changes

Looking at this Newcastle team v Burnley.

Our next match in the Premier League.

Newcastle United looking to start moving up the Premier League table.

If winning tonight, it would be the first double of the season for Eddie Howe and his team.

With home matches against Palace and Leeds to quickly follow, United could potentially move up any number of places in the table if winning these next three, currently only six points off top five despite the fourteenth place in the league.

As a reminder, this was the Newcastle team v Man U:

Ramsdale, Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall, Ramsey, Tonali, Bruno, Jacob Murphy, Gordon, Woltemade

The Eddie Howe pre-match press conference for this Burnley match was held at Old Trafford, immediately after the Man U game.

The Head Coach usually keeps cards close to his chest anyway and then with that press conference held so soon after the last game, it makes it even more tricky to assume who will and won’t be available.

Eddie Howe did say that he thought it unlikely anybody would return from the longer-term injury list, who wasn’t in the matchday squad for the Man U game.

With no news of any injuries after that Boxing Day match, it looks most likely that the starting eleven will once again come from the twenty players that were in the squad at Old Trafford. Possibly Anthony Elanga to be also available after missing Man U.

This is my predicted Newcastle team v Burnley:

Pope, Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall, Joelinton, Tonali, Bruno, Jacob Murphy, Gordon, Wissa

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

Pope, Joelinton and Yoane Wissa, replacing Ramsdale, Ramsey and Woltemade.

Nick Pope returned to the matchday squad for that Man U match but Eddie Howe said afterwards that Pope felt ill ahead of that game. We will never know if without that illness, Nick Pope would have came back into the team against Man U.

Aaron Ramsdale let in another soft goal that proved to be Man U’s winner and I have no doubt that Pope would have saved that Dorgu shot. I would be amazed if Nick Pope doesn’t start tonight against his old club.

The back four appears to pick itself, assuming no new injuries and nobody returning from injury.

I think Ramsey has done ok but having came off the bench at Man U, I fancy Joelinton to now be up to it physically and return to the starting eleven after a groin issue. I am confident he will play alongside Bruno and Tonali.

Anthony Gordon was United’s best player against Burnley earlier this month, giving Walker a torrid time. Gordon scored in the match as well as hitting the woodwork twice from distance, his cross leading to the penalty from which he scored from, plus winning the corner that Bruno scored from.

I think he will keep his place and Murphy on the other side, almost certainly, although like most of their teammates, neither winger playing well at Old Trafford.

Eddie Howe has been carefully managing Yoane Wissa’s minutes but I fancy tonight will see him give the former Brentford striker 60+ minutes, to give Burnley the worry of some pace in behind their defence, plus of course giving Woltemade a bit of a rest and able to come on later in the game against a tiring opposition, when he should then be able to find more space to receive the ball.

You have seen what Sam’s thoughts are on the most likely Newcastle team v Burnley, 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.