Considering how bad we’ve been in our last two games, you can expect Steve Bruce to make more than one change ahead of tonight’s trip to Crystal Palace.
With form and fitness in mind, here’s the team I can see Steve Bruce going with come 8pm:
Predicted NUFC XI (4-2-3-1): Darlow – Manquillo, Fernandez, Clark, Lewis – Shelvey, S Longstaff – Ritchie, Almiron, Joelinton – Wilson.
OUT – Lascelles, Hayden, Murphy, Saint-Maximin.
IN – Shelvey, Almiron, Ritchie, Wilson.
Who knows what he’ll go with, but I’m hoping we revert back to a four-man defence here – and see absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t.
Darlow will continue in goal and, if we return to a back four, I can see Clark keeping his place and him starting alongside Fernandez in Lascelles’ potential absence.
At full-back, Lewis is the only option down the left, but it’ll be interesting to see if Bruce goes sticks with Manquillo or hands a recall to Krafth.
I personally think the Spaniard is our best right-back, although Bruce has often opted for the Swede when he’s gone with a four-man defence…
In the middle of the park, Sean Longstaff was one of very few who did OK against Chelsea, so he looks likely to partner a fit-again Jonjo Shelvey now Hayden’s rumoured to be missing with COVID.
In the middle of the park, Sean Longstaff was one of very few who did OK against Chelsea, so he looks likely to partner a fit-again Jonjo Shelvey now Hayden’s rumoured to be missing with COVID.
In attack, I have a feeling Bruce will bring Matt Ritchie back into the side given our lack of energy and bite in recent weeks, so can see him starting down the right.
Jacob Murphy is an option, but he struggled against Chelsea and may drop down to the bench for this one.
Now we know Saint-Maximin will be missing, I can see Joelinton starting down the left, with Almiron back in a No 10 role just behind the returning Wilson.
How do you see us lining up tonight?
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