Bruce has hinted all week that we’ll see a few tweaks to his NUFC side – suggesting he’ll move away from a back 5 – so time will tell if he sticks to his word ahead of today’s crucial clash with Burnley.
Shelvey and Manquillo are back and in contention to start, however Lazaro is suspended, Carroll remains out, Clark has joined Dummett and Willems on the sidelines until the end of the season and the game will also come too soon for Krafth.
With form and fitness in mind, here’s the side I think could start again Burnley come 3pm today:
(4-2-3-1): Dubravka – Manquillo, Lascelles, Fernandez, Rose – Hayden, Shelvey – Saint-Maximin, Almiron, Joelinton – Gayle.
OUT – Schar, Lazaro, Bentaleb, S Longstaff?
IN – Manquillo, Hayden, Shelvey, Gayle?
A part of me feels Ritchie will return to the starting 11, but Joelinton looking likely to start out wide, ASM and Almiron nailed on and Rose more of a left-back in a four-man defence than Ritchie, I’m not sure where he fits?
With Bruce claiming he’ll move away from five at the back I can see Schar dropping out, while underperforming duo Bentaleb and Sean Longstaff seem likely to make way for Hayden and Shelvey – with the former deserving a recall and the latter a key player once fit.
In attack, it seems Joelinton has been playing in a wide left role on the training field, with Almiron also spotted playing just behind Gayle in drills at the Benton base this week.
What side do you see Bruce going with today?
