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With Newcastle’s opening game of the 2024/25 Premier League season just 10 days away, it’s time to predict which side looks likely to start against Southampton, as things stand.
A lot could change – we may sign Marc Guehi and performances over this weekend’s Sela Cup games against Girona and Brest may alter Eddie Howe’s thinking – and for me the two dilemmas are at RB and LW.
Will he hand starts to Livramento and Barnes – two players who’ve featured heavily over pre-season – or throw Trippier and Gordon straight back into the side despite the pair only returning yesterday? Here’s what I’ve gone for and why:
GK: Nick Pope – A no-brainer now he’s fit again. Badly missed over the back end of last season and looked superb in recent friendly wins over Hull and Urawa Red Diamonds.
RB: Tino Livramento – Fit again and looking in great shape (he’s definitely been hitting the gym this summer!) after missing our final two games of 2023/24. With Kieran Trippier only returning yesterday after a busy summer, I think Tino will get the nod against his former club, not that I’d be shocked if our vice-captain came straight back in.
RCB: Fabian Schar – Nailed on. Our Swiss dreamboat is ageing like a fine wine and key to creating from deep in that right-sided role.
LCB: Dan Burn – With Sven Botman injured, Lloyd Kelly still building up his fitness (he’s only managed 45 minutes over pre-season so far) and Marc Guehi yet to sign, I think we’ll see Burn at centre-back with the captains armband.
LB: Lewis Hall – No one has played more over pre-season than our £28m arrival from Chelsea, with the teenager racking up 284 minutes across our friendlies. He ended last season in great form, has looked sharp over pre-season and will surely start at left-back.
RCM: Sean Longstaff – With Sandro Tonali still suspended until we face Spurs on September 1st and Lewis Miley out injured, Longstaff looks set to continue on the right side of a midfield…
Source link : https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2024/08/07/the-newcastle-11-expected-to-start-vs-southampton-as-things-stand/
Author : Olly Hawkins
Publish date : 2024-08-07 15:22:59
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