As we count down the hours to kick-off, it’s time to predict what side Eddie Howe will select for tonight’s Carabao Cup quarter-final at St James’ Park.
Keeping in mind Saturday’s defeat, along with form, fitness and tonight’s opponents, here’s the XI I expect to see come 8pm:
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock – Almiron, Wilson, Joelinton.
I can see eight changes. Dubravka, Lascelles, Lewis, Manquillo, Anderson, Murphy, Ritchie and Isak out, Pope, Schar, Burn, Trippier, Guimaraes, Willock, Almiron and Wilson in.
The big calls before kick-off will be for Allan Saint-Maximin or Alexander Isak to start down the left. ASM returned from illness to train on Monday and Isak looked sharp in his 45-minute cameo at Hillsborough.
However, I’m not sure Howe will start the Frenchman so soon after being unwell or the Swede just a few days after his first outing in over three months, meaning Joelinton could continue out wide. After all, he was brilliant out wide in our 3-0 win at Leicester last month and never let us down in that role during our unbeaten run.
Elsewhere, I fully expect the likes of Pope, Schar, Burn, Trippier, Guimaraes, Willock, Almiron and Wilson returning to the side. Botman will surely keep his place, as could Longstaff – although I’d back Joelinton to replace him in the middle IF Howe goes with ASM or Isak down the left.
This was practically the team that battered Leicester at the King Power stadium just two weeks ago, only Wood started instead of Wilson that day. After his awful miss on Saturday, it’s fair to say the Kiwi won’t be in Howe’s XI this time around!
I can see Joelinton in midfield at the expense of Longstaff and Isak to the left of Wilson.
Joseph(Quote)