From the highs of the Champions League to the pressures of the Premier League, Eddie Howe needs to get every inch out of his Newcastle United squad over the next few months.
The Magpies have got a very busy schedule, including five more games against Europe’s best in the Champions League. They kicked off their campaign with a point, drawing 0-0 with AC Milan at the San Siro.
Now Newcastle will head to Bramall Lane, for a tricky away tie against one of the Premier League’s newly promoted sides.
Howe‘s team will be expected to win against Sheffield United, but it could be a potential banana skin as they deal with tired legs following a big effort in Milan.
The Newcastle players looked shattered by full time on Tuesday night, which is why Howe must shuffle his pack again for the game against the Blades.
And that should result in Callum Wilson returning to the starting lineup.
Callum Wilson should start for Newcastle against Sheffield United
Wilson was Newcastle’s man of the match against Brentford, scoring the only goal of the game to stop the rot and end the Magpies’ string of consecutive defeats.
His reward? A place on the bench against AC Milan.
The Champions League clash was more suited to Alexander Isak, but this fixture is much more suited to Wilson.
Newcastle will likely see a lot of the ball and play high up the pitch, while the Sheffield United defenders will be physical just like Brentford’s were. We need the ball to stick when it goes up to the striker, which is why Wilson is the man to start at Bramall Lane.
He is in great form, despite only starting once this season. The ‘incredible‘ striker already has three goals to his name and is the Magpies’ top scorer.
The England international will be full of confidence after his exploits against Brentford, while he will also feel like he has a point to prove after not starting in the Champions League.
On top of that, Isak was one of the players who looked knackered on Tuesday night. He ended up on the left wing, but was rather ineffective in the closing stages before Harvey Barnes replaced him.
Rotation is the aim of the game for Howe, and he absolutely must pick Wilson to lead the line over Isak on Sunday afternoon against Sheffield United.
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