Predicted Newcastle team v Aston Villa for today’s match | OneFootball

Looking at this Newcastle team v Aston Villa.

The NUFC players hoping to get off to the best possible start to the season.

The friendly action is over and now things get serious.

I think everybody really looking forward to getting back to the football, rather than the endless speculation off it.

So, what can we expect the Newcastle team v Aston Villa to be?

At his press conference on Friday, Eddie Howe gave us some information on who is and isn’t available.

The United boss confirming that, as expected, Alexander Isak will take no part today.

Jacob Ramsey won’t be signed in time to take part either, against his soon to be former club

Whilst Eddie Howe revealed that Joe Willock is almost ready to return from injury but won’t be available either this afternoon.

Apart from that, Eddie Howe confirming all the rest of the Newcastle United squad are available.

So we have the possibility of one or more of Anthony Elanga, Aaron Ramsdale and Malick Thiaw making their competitive NUFC debuts at Villa Park.

Taking everything into consideration, this is how I see the Newcastle team v Aston Villa looking on Saturday afternoon:

Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Tino Livramento, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon, Anthony Elanga

I think Aaron Ramsdale could well end up as first choice this season but Nick Pope will start today.

Whilst Eddie Howe has said that all of his defenders are available, both Lewis Hall and Sven Botman have been coming back from injury in pre-season and I think will be on the bench today, as they are given a bit more time to get back to full fitness and sharpness. Whilst Malick Thiaw has just arrived and surely will also be on the bench.

That appears to leave a pretty straightforward selection of Schar and Burn in the middle, Trippier on the right and Tino the left.

Then the midfield trio pick themselves.

In the absence of Isak and with no new signings at centre-forward as yet, Anthony Gordon will be the false nine. Playing furthest forward but allowed to wander. He looked good there in pre-season when Eddie Howe played him in that role. Not ideal but not the worst thing ever.

That means Harvey Barnes can play in his favoured left side role.

Then whilst Jacob Murphy has looked decent in the friendlies, Anthony Elanga should start on the right.

With no out and out first team squad striker available (apart from Will Osula who will be on the bench), I think the front three will interchange a lot and hopefully we can get bodies in the box to take advantage of any decent deliveries into the danger zone.