Howe faced with six selection dilemmas ahead of crucial Brighton clash

by Olly Hawkins · 11 May 2024, 09:57

It's been a rarity this season with all of the injuries, but Eddie Howe has five key players back from injury and several selection dilemmas heading into today's clash with Brighton.

There's a chance he stands by the same side that blew away Burnley in last weekend's 4-1 win at Turf Moor, but the return of some big names gives him plenty to think about heading into the final home game of 2023/24.

Firstly, does he start a fit-again Nick Pope in goal or stick with Martin Dubravka? Howe confirmed that Pope has trained well this week, but also suggested he's still "building his robustness" after returning from shoulder surgery. If he's ready, I'd like to see Pope come straight back in.

In defence, Kieran Trippier is back in training and "raring to go". He's our captain in Jamaal Lascelles' absence and hugely influential, but does he come into the side when Tino Livramento has been performing so well at right-back? I suspect we'll see him on the bench.

Then to midfield, where the influential Joelinton is ready to return. He's a huge presence and one we've missed sorely. He could start in a midfield three if we reverted back to a 4-3-3 or on the left of a 4-4-2 if Howe sticks by last weekend's system, but who would be dropped?

Callum Wilson has scored in each of his last two outings and played alongside Alexander Isak at Burnley. Does Howe stick with two up top and play both his strikers once again?

Then there's Harvey Barnes and the fit-again Miguel Almiron, giving us options own either flank. On paper, many prefer both to Jacob Murphy, yet he produced one of his best displays of the season at Burnley, bagging two assists in a lively display down our right.

The team I'd like to see is a 4-4-1-1 featuring Pope back in goal, Joelinton down the left (meaning Gordon moves to the right), with Isak playing just off Wilson, but I think Howe might just stand by the same 11 that produced the goods last weekend, giving us so many options from the bench in Trippier, Joelinton, Anderson, Barnes and Almiron. It's not often we've had that in reserve this season!