As Newcastle United prepare to face Bayer Leverkusen tonight, there will be extra focus needed from Dan Burn in particular.
The Magpies know that this game is pretty much a must-win if they are to progress automatically to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
This is our predicted Newcastle United XI to face Bayer Leverkusen! Are you making any changes?🤔
Newcastle United are protecting an impressive record against Leverkusen, but an away trip to Germany is never easy. Indeed, Eddie Howe will need his full-strength team, whether he likes it or not.
Resting key players is a luxury Howe cannot afford at this stage, which means Dan Burn will just have to be extra careful during the game.
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Dan Burn walking suspension tightrope
The Newcastle United defender is just one booking away from a one-match suspension in the Champions League.
If he is shown a yellow card in any of the final three group phase games, Burn will sit out the next match. He will have to be on his best behaviour against Leverkusen, first and foremost, and do the same against PSG and PSV Eindhoven in the New Year.
The same applies to Joelinton. The Brazilian midfielder was booked in the first two group games, but has stayed out of trouble since.
Ironically, he is in a similar position in the Carabao Cup, but has been pretty well-behaved in the Premier League with just three bookings in the opening 15 games.
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Should Howe put out a weakened team vs Bayer Leverkusen ahead of facing Sunderland on Sunday?👀
Newcastle United cannot afford to lose Dan Burn
While losing any player, including Joelinton, would be a blow for Newcastle, it’s Dan Burn who would be the most costly absentee at this stage.
In midfield, the likes of Jacob Ramsey and Lewis Miley could both step in to cover if Joelinton were to serve a suspension.
However, at the back, Burn has been filling in at left-back whenever Lewis Hall has been unwell or lacking fitness. He’s done a good job there, too, and with no other full-backs in reserve, Eddie Howe can ill afford to lose someone with the experience and flexibility Burn offers.
Whether he’s in his favoured centre-back role or playing out of position, Dan Burn is a titan in the Newcastle backline and facing PSG without him would be a disaster waiting to happen.
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