Newcastle United are back in Premier League action at St James’ Park for the first time in 2025, with Wolves our opponents as we look to equal a record nine-straight wins.
Emil Krafth may return to the squad and Joe Willock will be assessed, but Harvey Barnes (thigh), Nick Pope (knee), Callum Wilson (hamstring) and Jamaal Lascelles (ACL) have been ruled out.
With all of that in mind, here’s a closer look at who we’re expecting to start in tonight’s 7.30pm kick-off.
Predicted line-up and Howe’s tough call
(4-3-3): Dubravka – Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall – Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton – Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
Howe made NINE changes on Sunday, seeing plenty fringe men and a couple of younger lads get a chance to impress against Bromley while some of our first-team stars were given the afternoon off.
Now we’re back in Premier League action, most of the team picks itself after this incredible run of eight straight wins and Alexander Isak (hamstring) is expected to be fit, according to The Mail’s Craig Hope.
Howe, Howe does have one big call to make at centre-back, with the boss suddenly spoilt with three great options to fill two spots. Fabian Schar is back after sitting out wins over Spurs and Arsenal through suspension, Dan Burn is in brilliant form and Sven Botman is fit again and should be ready to play after being rested on Sunday.
With Botman feeling his groin slightly at Arsenal, Burn virtually undroppable – Howe’s own words in a recent press conference – and Schar’s ability to play out from the back key against teams we should be beating at home, I think it’ll be the Swiss alongside our big man from Blyth.
After all, Schar and Burn was the centre-back pairing that started off this great run and was only disrupted by the former’s ban in league and cup, with Botman only forced to play twice in four days against Spurs and Arsenal due to that suspension.
Botman has been superb and he’ll be back in the side before long, but you could argue that the centre-back spots are Schar’s and Burn’s to lose, for now at least.
OUT: Trippier, Kelly, Targett, Longstaff, Miley, Almiron, Barnes, Osula.
IN: Livramento, Burn, Hall, Guimaraes, Tonali, Murphy, Gordon, Isak.
Would love to see more of Miley.
Ryan(Quote)