After a couple of games behind closed doors, Newcastle United finally have their first proper friendly on Saturday.
The Magpies travel to East Yorkshire to face Hull City at the MKM Stadium (2pm kick-off), in what is Newcastle United‘s first game in front of fans since the post-season trip to Australia.
It will be a weakened Toon side that Eddie Howe picks, as some of his major stars are yet to return. The likes of Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon will not feature, after representing their countries at the Copa America and the Euros respectively.
They are due to travel to Japan with the Newcastle United squad after the game against Hull, but Howe will have to work with what he has got until he and his squad arrive in the Far East.
With that in mind, this is the starting XI we predict Eddie Howe to pick for Newcastle’s friendly against Championship side Hull City.
Tino Livramento starts for Newcastle with Lloyd Kelly on the bench
Tino Livramento missed the end of last season with an ankle injury, and Eddie Howe recently stated that the defender was still ‘working his way back’ to fitness. But Livramento has been spotted in full training this week, and the £32million man should be fit to start at right-back.
He will be joined in defence by Emil Krafth, Dan Burn and Lewis Hall. Krafth will likely have to play as the right-sided centre-back, as it feels like that Fabian Schar will not be back with the squad until the trip to Japan. Elsewhere, Jamaal Lascelles is still injured.
Lloyd Kelly could get his first run out in front of the Toon Army, but it may have to come as a substitute.
Joe Willock does not start
Joe Willock is another player who has spent the summer recovering from injury. He barely played last year, and is hoping to enjoy a much healthier 2024/25 campaign.
But it may still be too early for him to start, with Joelinton, Sean Longstaff and Joe White expected to start ahead of him.
It will be an important opportunity for White, as his minutes in pre-season might become more limited when Bruno Guimaraes returns and Willock is fully fit.
There will be no Sandro Tonali against Hull, as the Italian midfielder is not allowed to play in friendlies with a crowd.
Limited options in attack for Newcastle
Every member of Newcastle’s front three scored in the first pre-season game against SpVgg Unterhaching, and the same front three should start against the Tigers.
That means Harvey Barnes, Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy will be playing together again, as Howe does not really have any alternatives – unless he decides to put his trust in youth.
Trevan Sanusi and Garang Kuol are options to feature, but there are no senior alternatives. Gordon and Miguel Almiron are still away, while Callum Wilson is injured. Elsewhere, Ryan Fraser is training with the Newcastle Under-21s.
Predicted XI vs Hull: Pope; Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Joelinton, White; Murphy, Isak, Barnes.
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