It’s Newcastle United vs Chelsea on Saturday night, and Eddie Howe will want his team to end the first half of the season on a high.
The Magpies know that no matter what that they will be in the top four when the final whistle sounds, but Howe will be keen for his team to put in a good performance.
It is the final game before the Premier League is put on hold, leaving the World Cup to take centre stage. Having such a long break mid season is going to be very strange, and it comes at a bad time for Newcastle.
We have been on a roll, and are now 10 games unbeaten in all competitions.
Howe has plenty players competing for a place in his team, and this is our predicted Newcastle XI vs Chelsea
No changes necessary in defence or midfield
With no fresh injury worries, Howe can name an unchanged defence and midfield from the team that beat Southampton on Sunday.
While the likes of Javi Manquillo, Jamaal Lascelles and Matt Targett came into the defence against Palace in the cup, it is unlikely that any of them will start versus Chelsea.
No one majorly staked a claim in the League Cup encounter, meaning Howe should revert to the majority of the XI that put Southampton to the sword last Sunday.
That means World Cup send offs for Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar and Bruno Guimaraes.
Joelinton starts over ASM vs Chelsea
Howe was forced into one change last weekend, with Joelinton being suspended. Jacob Murphy started in his place on the left wing. However, we don’t expect him to continue in the starting XI.
In his place, Howe has a couple of options. The Toon boss could be tempted to start Allan Saint-Maximin, who played the full game in the cup win on Wednesday. It was the 25-year-old’s first start since August.
However, we anticipate Joelinton to resume his role down the left. The £40million man has played well there in recent weeks, and will add solidity against a strong Chelsea side – despite the formbook saying otherwise.
Howe leaves Wilson out of his Newcastle team
Callum Wilson has had a week to remember, being named in England’s World Cup squad.
However, he might not be fit to start against Chelsea. Illness forced him off at half time last weekend, and he missed the win over Crystal Palace completely.
Now Howe has said that he will make a late decision over the 30-year-old, who has been training away from the group this week.
With that in mind, and the impending World Cup, we think Howe will start with Chris Wood over Wilson. The New Zealand international got his goal last week, and performed well when called upon last season.
Hopefully he can do the same on Saturday evening – although Wilson’s presence will hopefully loom large on the bench.
Predicted XI vs Chelsea: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Bruno, Willock; Almiron, Wood, Joelinton.
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