Tonight sees Wolves come to town and a win would go a long way to relieving the pressure on the club.
It has been a tough few weeks, but Eddie Howe has an excellent home record. With that in mind, there should be confidence that we can end our run of three straight defeats and boost our survival hopes.
We haven’t beaten Wolves since their return to the Premier League, therefore a win is overdue.
Below we select our predicted eleven for the game:
Martin Dubravka – The goalkeeper didn’t have his best game at Tottenham last week, but he is our undisputed number one. He will start and he will be hoping to get another home clean sheet.
Emil Krafth – There will be a few changes to the team today. Javier Manquillo struggled badly at Spurs last week, so it makes sense for Krafth to return; even if it will underwhelm some supporters.
Fabian Schar – There is another possibility that Jamaal Lascelles comes in. The lack of a physical striker for Wolves means that Schar could be retained for his on-ball ability. He wasn’t great last week, but he has been reliable under Howe.
Dan Burn – It has been a tough few weeks for Dan Burn after an excellent start to life as a Newcastle player. That said, he is undroppable as he is one of the few leaders in the team. Wolves should be a better match-up for him.
Matt Targett – The on loan Aston Villa defender is an automatic starter, but the calls for a permanent transfer have quietened recently. He will need a good end to the season if he is to remain at the club.
Jonjo Shelvey – It has been a good period for Shelvey under Howe, but his performances have dipped. The competition in midfield means that he needs to find his form again. This is a chance to do that.
Bruno Guimaraes – This is going to be an exciting evening as Bruno Guimaraes is set for his first start at St James’ Park. He brings a coolness to the midfield that others can’t. This is a great opportunity for him to stamp his authority on the team with an influential performance.
Joelinton – The Brazilian has been one of the stories of the season. He looks to have a big future as a central midfielder. His groin injury and a bout of illness have hampered him recently, but he should be fit to start tonight.
Ryan Fraser – The Scottish international has been very good under Howe – even if, like others, his performance levels have dropped recently. This is a chance for him to deliver another strong showing at St James’ Park.
Chris Wood – There has been more conversation about Wood’s role in the team in recent days. Last weekend was his worst performance since signing, but he can be forgiven after an energy-sapping international break. He needs to be better this weekend.
Allan Saint-Maximin – The Frenchman has faced his critics recently, but he is vital to our attack. He is normally more effective at home. This is a chance for him to remind the doubters of why he needs to be a big part of the future.
OUT: Manquillo and Willock – IN: Krafth and Guimaraes.
How do you see us lining up tonight? Let us know in the comments below.
