With injuries confirmed, this may almost certainly be the NUFC side that starts vs Bournemouth

With Rafa Benitez confirming that Muto and Shelvey are likely to miss out on Saturday, we can take a pretty good guess at the Newcastle United side that looks set to start against Bournemouth on Saturday.

Muto and Shelvey limped off in last weekend’s win over Watford and are deemed ‘doubts’ for Saturday after missing training this week, however Lascelles ‘should be fine’ as far as Rafa is concerned – despite also coming off at half time with a shoulder complaint.

Keeping in mind this injury news and the form of certain players who came on from the bench vs Watford, here’s the side that looks almost certain to face a high flying Bournemouth side on Saturday:

(4-4-1-1): Dubravka – Yedlin, Lascelles, Fernandez, Dummett – Ritchie, Diame, Ki, Kenedy – Perez – Rondon. 

Rondon proved his fitness after unexpectedly seeing out the entire 90 minutes last weekend, so he’ll start again, and with Muto looking likely to miss out and Perez scoring the winner after replacing him, I expect the latter to be back in Benitez’s starting 11.

With Shelvey also a doubt, Ki Sung-yueng looks nailed on to replace him in midfield should Jonjo miss out. This would’ve been a real concern a few weeks ago, but his game changing cameo last weekend has filled us all with hope that he can come in and do the business in Jonjo’s absence.

Kenedy and Ritchie seem pretty nailed on, as does the back five as long as Lascelles is fully fit.

There’ll be calls to give Schar a start after his outstanding display from the bench against Watford, however I don’t see Rafa rejigging his defence just yet – especially not at the skipper’s expense.

Would you be happy if this does turn out to be the side that starts against Bournemouth?

(Fancy writing for us? Send any articles/ideas over to us at [email protected] & we’ll get back to you!)

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

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