After a crazy week off the pitch, Newcastle need to get it right on the pitch on Sunday.
The Magpies head to the Hawthorns for a huge game against West Brom, but Steve Bruce will be forced into at least two changes from the team that drew against Wolves.
Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron are both out injured, joining Callum Wilson on the shelf.
That means we are without our three best attackers. This is a huge worry considering they have scored 59% of our Premier League goals this season.
There have been a lot of calls for Elliot Anderson to come into the team, while we also pondered whether it could hand an opportunity to Sean Longstaff.
However, the Athletic claim that neither of those players will start.
Time to step up for Fraser and Gayle
They report that Ryan Fraser and Dwight Gayle will likely come into the side.
Fraser is an obvious choice to replace Saint-Maximin on the left. He’s had a tough start to life at Newcastle, but has shown flashes of brilliance.
He’s a player who always looks to put dangerous balls into the box, getting himself an assist in last week’s draw with Wolves.
As for Gayle, he will be considered as a safe but sensible option.
We lack goals throughout the team. But Gayle is a natural goalscorer. He’s a poacher.
He hasn’t featured much all season, and his contract is set to expire this summer. If he can score the goals that keep us up, it could earn him a new deal at St James’ Park.
Gayle’s potential involvement poses a question though: Will he play at the tip of the diamond like Almiron or will we slightly change system?
If Gayle does play centrally, he needs to be an out-and-out striker. He’s at his best playing on the shoulder, rather than coming from deep.
Bruce needs to shift his formation slightly to accommodate Gayle, going from 4-1-2-1-2 to 4-3-3.
It’s a minor change, but one that should get the best out of Gayle.
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