Newcastle United can put themselves on the brink of Champions League qualification with a win against Brighton on Thursday night.
It is an incredibly difficult game for Eddie Howe‘s side, with Newcastle needing a result against the side that ended Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes on Sunday.
But the Magpies must back their own ability. While Brighton are a great team, so are we. That is why we are third in the league, two wins away from qualifying for Europe’s elite competition.
There is pressure on Howe to get his team selection right, and this is our predicted Newcastle starting lineup to face Brighton
No changes at the back vs Brighton
With no fresh injury concerns at the back, Howe will almost certainly name the same back five that he used against Arsenal and Leeds.
Newcastle have failed to keep a clean sheet in eight games, and will hope that record comes to an end on Thursday night. That will be difficult given Brighton’s attacking flair, although we were able to do it in the reverse fixture at the start of the season.
Newcastle drew 0-0 at the Amex on a sunny August afternoon, and Howe will go with the same defence that shut out the Seagulls on that day.
Bruno in the ‘six’
With Sean Longstaff still unavailable, Howe will have to go with the same midfield trio of Joe Willock, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton.
However, Newcastle must start with Bruno as the ‘six’. Joelinton started in that role against Leeds, and it didn’t work for either player.
Bruno could not get in the game to begin with, while Joelinton is nowhere near as strong as Bruno in possession, which is a vital aspect of playing that number ‘six’ role.
Obviously Bruno’s injury is hindering him, while he would like to play higher up the pitch, but he is the most suitable option we have right now, which means Howe does not really have any other choice.
Howe drops Isak to the Newcastle bench
The experiment of playing Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak together has not really worked. The £63million man has operated on the left of attack, where he has been isolated at times.
It is clear that Howe is better off starting one of his forwards on the bench and using them as an impact player in the second half.
And with Wilson playing so well, it is Isak who should drop out.
That creates a vacancy on the left of attack, which would ideally go to Allan Saint-Maximin. However, the 26-year-old’s defensive limitations would likely be exposed by Brighton, which is why we feel Anthony Gordon is more likely to get the nod.
Another option is Jacob Murphy, but he is reportedly a doubt for the game against Brighton.
Predicted XI vs Brighton: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Willock, Bruno, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Gordon.
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