With kick-off at the City Ground just a few hours away, it’s time to predict what side Eddie Howe will select in search of back-to-back wins.
Here’s the XI we’re expecting to see him go with when the team sheets are released at 7pm:
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Willock – Murphy, Isak, Saint-Maximin.
I was expecting Miguel Almiron to come back into the side following a rest and late goal last weekend, but it’s emerged that he picked up an ankle injury in training yesterday – hence why he’s not been selected for the latest Paraguay squad.
Because of that, Jacob Murphy will keep his place in the side. It’s a blow to lose Almiron – our top scorer on 11 goals – but the former Norwich winger didn’t let us down last weekend and probably deserves another chance.
Elsewhere, I see Howe opting for the same side that beat Wolves, if possible, although Fabian Schar and Sean Longstaff are ones to watch, with the former pulling out of the Swiss squad to manage a ‘foot injury’ and latter not featuring in any of the training photos on Wednesday. If either are forced to miss out, we could see rare starts for Elliot Anderson and Jamaal Lascelles.
Callum Wilson hasn’t trained for “over a week” and will be on the bench at best, while Anthony Gordon has been ruled out with an ankle injury.
HWTL!
