With our final game of 2022 fast approaching, it’s time to predict what side Eddie Howe will go with ahead of today’s clash with Leeds.
Keeping form, fitness and the busy schedule in mind, here’s the side we’re expecting to start at St James’ Park:
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock – Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.
The back four and midfield picks itself these days, but Howe has a couple of big decisions to make in attack.
It’ll be interesting to see if he keeps faith in Chris Wood – who scored from the spot and led the line admirably at Leicester – or brings Callum Wilson straight back into his starting XI, should he be passed fit after returning to training on Friday.
Allan Saint-Maximin presents another dilemma. He often comes alive at St James’ Park and tore Leeds apart in this fixture last season, but will Howe change a side that won so convincingly at Leicester?
Joelinton was one of our star performers on Monday and has never let us down from the left in recent months, yet he did go down on several occasions at Leicester, not to mention the fact rotation will be needed over such a busy period.
With those two things in mind, I can see Saint-Maximin starting, with Wilson’s inclusion totally dependant on how well he’s recovered from illness.
