Predicted Newcastle team v Brighton | OneFootball

Looking at this Newcastle team v Brighton.

Eddie Howe and his players knowing a victory will ensure they stay in sixth spot, as they are currently two points clear of both Chelsea and Man U.

Only four points off Spurs and fifth, if Tottenham fail to beat Burnley today then Eddie Howe’s team could even be only one or two points off top five, assuming NUFC do the business as well today.

Newcastle would also move five points clear of Chelsea, who are at home to West Ham on Sunday.

In this race for sixth spot, Newcastle United also with a vastly superior goal difference, 11 better off than Chelsea and 25 superior to Man U!

So what can we expect the Newcastle team v Brighton to be?

As a starting point, this was the Newcastle team v Burnley:

Dubravka, Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Hall, Longstaff, Bruno, J Murphy, Gordon, Isak, Wilson

Eddie Howe gave an injury and availability update on Friday morning.

The NUFC Head Coach said that Fabian Schar definitely wouldn’t be available today but could potentially be involved in the two away games to come.

Whilst in better news, Eddie Howe revealing that Kieran Trippier had trained well with the group this week and after Friday’s training he was making a decision on whether he could be included in today’s matchday squad.

The Newcastle United boss also saying both Miguel Almiron and Joelinton had suffered no setbacks when returning to action off the bench against Burnley.

Howe also making clear that Nick Pope is now pushing for a place in the first eleven again, having also returned recently to the matchday squad.

Anyway, my take on all of this after the above, my best guesstimate of the Newcastle team v Brighton…

Dubravka, Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Hall, Longstaff, Bruno, J Murphy, Gordon, Isak, Wilson

As you can see, my predicted team to face Brighton is exactly the same as the one that started at Turf Moor.

Eddie Howe now at last has the likes of Pope, Joelinton, Barnes, Almiron and hopefully Trippier as well, pushing for a place in the team, but I have a feeling he will stick with a winning team.

The NUFC Head Coach has showed exactly the right balance many times in his approach, in terms of loyalty to players doing well for him AND at the same time, also making tough decisions where he feels he still has to make changes he feels are the right thing to do.

If Fabian Schar had been available, then I think Emil Krafth may have been very unlucky and found himself dropping to the bench.

However, I don’t see Trippier coming straight back in today if available, both because he has been out a while and due to the fact that Livramento and Hall have both done well, especially last weekend in both defence and attack against Burnley.

I have no doubt that plenty of you would be picking Joelinton in particular if you were choosing the team, but I think Eddie Howe will be sticking with same again for now. Though maybe Man U on Wednesday will see maybe one or two NUFC changes…

I think the big talking point has to be whether Eddie Howe will stick with starting both Isak and Wilson today?

It certainly worked well last week in terms of the goal threat and no surprise then if it is same again.

I think using both of the strikers does leave us a little more open at the back, but maybe Eddie Howe will see a much injury weakened Brighton – especially in attacking areas, as a side who he can play a very attack minded eleven against.

Whatever team Eddie Howe does start with, what we can be sure of is that we will see him using his regained strength from the bench. Finally having a set of options on the bench again, so at sometime in the second half, whether chasing the game or to see it out from a winning position, we will for sure see at least three or four subs coming on to give it fresh legs and ensure of course in the best possible shape ahead of the two away games that are coming up fast.

Newcastle United matches now confirmed for rest of the season:

Saturday 11 May 2024 – Newcastle v Brighton (3pm)

Wednesday 15 May 2024 – Man U v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Sunday 19 May 2024 – Brentford v Newcastle (4pm)

(The final day of the season live TV matches will be selected closer to the day but all 10 PL games will be same time same day)

Wednesday 22 May 2024 – Tottenham v Newcastle (at MCG – Melbourne Cricket Ground)