Eddie Howe might be forced to drop £28m player because of ‘decisive’ Fulham talent

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Eddie Howe looks braced to change his Newcastle United starting XI against Fulham on Saturday.

The Magpies beat Wolves last weekend, but Eddie Howe had to rely on his substitutes – many of which are pushing to start at Craven Cottage.

Howe needs to start Harvey Barnes after his winning goal at Molineux, and his inclusion should result in Anthony Gordon moving from the left of attack to the right.

Elsewhere, there will be a real temptation to start Sandro Tonali ahead of Sean Longstaff. Tonali made a real difference against Wolves, and Newcastle United fans are really eager to see him start a Premier League game for the first time since October 2023.

However, there is another change that Howe might be contemplating due to the threat of one of Fulham’s best players this season.

Adama Traore is playing well ahead of facing Newcastle United

Fulham signed Adama Traore on a free transfer from Wolves in the summer of 2023.

After an injury hit first year at Craven Cottage, Traore has started all four of Fulham’s Premier League matches so far.

The 28-year-old has started the season very brightly, and scored for the Cottagers in a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town last month.

Marco Silva called Traore ‘decisive‘ after that goal, and he is proving to be a real handful for opposition left-backs with his pace and power.

Eddie Howe should consider changing his left-back against Fulham

When Traore is at his best, he can be difficult to stop. While his end product leaves a lot to be desired, he is a tough player to defend against.

And that is why Howe might be considering a change to his Newcastle United back four this weekend.

Lewis Hall started at left-back against Wolves on Sunday. The £28million man had a mixed game, and ended the afternoon up front due to suffering from cramp after the Magpies had made all their substitutions.

While Hall is very good on the ball and has improved defensively, he still has a lot of work to do. Up against a player like Traore, he might struggle.

That is why Howe should be tempted to bring Lloyd Kelly back into the team. The 25-year-old has enjoyed a bright start to his Newcastle United career, despite being in and out of the starting XI.

Kelly was Newcastle’s unsung hero against Wolves, coming on for the final 10 minutes as Howe shifted to a back five to preserve his side’s lead. It proved to be the correct decision, with Kelly playing a key role in Newcastle getting over the line.

But now Kelly is needed in the starting XI. He is much better suited to handling Traore, who is a player that has caused Newcastle United plenty of problems in the past.

It might be harsh on Hall, but this is a case of certain players being more suited to certain games. This feels like it is a match for Kelly.