The team sheets are in at St James’ Park, where Newcastle United take on Brighton in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

It’s been an up and down past week, with us following a 4-3 win over Nottingham Forest last Sunday with a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool on Wednesday night.

For Brighton, they’ve won four on the spin in all competitions, seeing Fabian Hurzeler’s side respond superbly to that 7-0 defeat at Forest at the start of February.

Here’s the side Eddie Howe has gone with against the Seagulls, with a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on the line.

Confirmed line-up

Newcastle XI: Dubravka – Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento – Miley, Tonali, Joelinton – Gordon, Isak, Barnes.

Subs: Pope, Wilson, Targett, Krafth, Osula, Murphy, Willock, Longstaff, Bruno.

Eddie Howe has made SIX changes from the midweek defeat at Anfield, seeing Dubravka, Trippier, Miley, Joelinton, Barnes and Isak replace Pope, Hall, Bruno, Willock, Murphy and Wilson.

Two weeks today we’ll be at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final, so it’s a big boost to see Alexander Isak and Joelinton back involved – but a growing concern that Sven Botman misses out once again.

It also feels like a sensible decision to hand Bruno and Hall a rest, with Livramento moving to left-back and Miley stepping into midfield. However, there is a slight concern with Hall, who is due to see a specialist about an ankle issue.

For Brighton, former Mag Yankuba Minteh starts on the right wing, with former Toon target Joao Pedro up front for the Seagulls.

Brighton XI: Verbruggen -Lamptey, Van Hecke, Webster (c), Estupinan – Baleba Hinshelwood – Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma – Joao Pedro. 

Howe’s pre-match comments

Speaking to the media on Friday morning, Howe discussed the importance of the FA Cup and the test ahead against an in-form Brighton side who beat us 1-0 in our league meeting at St James’ Park earlier in the season.

“It is a huge competition. We know the importance of it, we don’t take it lightly. This will be a tough game, Brighton are in great form, this should be a really exciting cup tie.

“Their away form has been very strong, it will be a test for us, but one I am sure we can rise to.”

Howay the lads!