The teams are in ahead of tonight’s FA Cup clash at Sheffield Wednesday, where Alexander Isak STARTS for Eddie Howe’s Mags at Hillsborough.
Here’s the Toon XI in full, which features X changes from our 0-0 draw with Arsenal on Tuesday:
STARTING XI: Dubravka – Manquillo, Lascelles, Botman, Lewis – Joelinton, Longstaff, Anderson – Ritchie, Isak, Murphy.
SUBS: Darlow, Trippier, Dummett, Wood, Fraser, Almiron, Willock, Burn, Guimaraes.
Isak’s return is a huge boost, seeing our club record signing start his first game since September’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth after recovering from an ongoing thigh issue.
It’ll also be interesting to see the likes of Jamal Lewis and Elliot Anderson in action from the off, with Javier Manquillo, Jamaal Lascelles and Matt Ritchie also handed rare starts.
One notable absentee is an unwell Allan Saint-Maximin, who wasn’t spotted getting off the team bus in Sheffield and doesn’t feature in Howe’s matchday squad.
Elsewhere, it’s believed Nick Pope, Callum Wilson Fabian Schar haven’t travelled, with all three being given a rest by Eddie Howe ahead of Tuesday’s Carabao Cup quarter final, but Paul Dummett is back on a bench that features Kieran Trippier, Miguel Almiron, Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock.
HWTL.
Isak is looking very rusty and slow
Alex(Quote)
Disrespectful by Eddie Howe with those pathetic 8 changes to play Sheffield Wednesday.
I had better lend Eddie and the coaches my glasses as he seems totally blind to Chris Wood’s appalling attempts at scoring with yet another miss…this lad is a plank of wood!
Well done to Sheffield Wednesday though.
Should we buy Windass to replace Wood?
Joseph(Quote)
Howe might realise after the display of the so called reserves coming into the team that we are desperate for some quality signings
Michael Fryer(Quote)
Michael Fryer:-
Hope So!
Joseph(Quote)