Eddie Howe has an odd decision to make, as he picks his Newcastle United starting XI to face Tottenham Hotspur in Australia.
The Newcastle United players have arrived in Melbourne for two post-season friendlies, as they prepare to face Tottenham and the A-League All Stars.
Spurs are up first, as the two sides go head to head on the other side of the world just days after the Premier League came to an end.
It is a crazy game that is merely for commercial purposes, and this is the Newcastle United XI we predict Howe to pick against Tottenham.
Kieran Trippier starts for Newcastle after Australia complaints
Kieran Trippier was recently very focal about the club’s post-season trip to Australia, describing it as ‘not ideal’. His reward? A place in the starting XI.
The 33-year-old should be fresh after only coming on in the 81st minute against Brentford, and he is a high profile name that the Aussie fans will appreciate seeing.
Elsewhere in defence, Alex Murphy starts at centre-back after recently signing a new contract with the club. He is also joined at the back by Dan Burn and Paul Dummett, despite the former starting the 4-2 win over Brentford on Sunday.
Bruno Guimaraes in the middle down under against Tottenham
He was the Magpies’ star player against Brentford, and now Bruno Guimaraes is in Australia ready to play for Newcastle United again. The 26-year-old has made 50 appearances for Newcastle this season, missing just one game.
But with so many senior midfielders unavailable, Howe will want a bit of experience in his side, which is why Bruno might have to start.
Bruno should not play much in Australia, with the Copa America on the horizon. But we do have him starting against Spurs, alongside academy graduates Joe White and Elliot Anderson.
Eddie Howe makes Garang Kuol decision
This trip to Australia has not gone down well, but one of the positives is getting the chance to see Garang Kuol in action.
The Australia international is in the squad, and could don the black and white stripes for the first ever time. He has linked up with his Toon teammates and will hope to make an impression, but it might have to be off the bench.
That is because we predict Howe to name him as a substitute to begin with, instead opting for a more experienced front three of Miguel Almiron, Callum Wilson and Matt Ritchie.
This might be one of their final appearances for Newcastle, with Almiron and Wilson linked with being sold. As for Ritchie, the £12million veteran’s Toon contract expires this summer.
Anthony Gordon will not be involved, with the 23-year-old missing the trip due to injury.
Predicted XI vs Tottenham: Gillespie; Trippier, Murphy, Burn, Dummett; White, Bruno, Anderson; Almiron, Wilson, Ritchie.
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