Newcastle United predicted line-up vs Wolves with Sandro Tonali decision and Trippier call

Newcastle United return to Premier League action this weekend with a challenging schedule ahead of them - and one which will put their aims of improving their away form to the test.

Four of the Magpies' next five fixtures before the October international break are away from St James' Park, meaning that if Eddie Howe's side are to continue their positive start to the season then they must pick up wins on the road.

United head to Molineux without some big players in Sven Botman, Callum Wilson, Joe Willock, Lewis Miley and Jamaal Lascelles, but Howe will welcome Fabian Schar back to the fold after his three-match suspension. After last season's inury nightmare, the Newcastle boss has a strong squad to pick from this weekend, and has a few selections decisions to make.

Sandro Tonali's two starts for Italy during the international break suggest he's now ready to be included in the starting line-up on a regular basis. The midfielder has been a huge miss during his 10-month ban, but showed against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham that he can make a big difference to United's engine room.

The question is who he replaces, with Sean Longstaff perhaps the most likely option. Howe has relied heavily on the Geordie midfielder, particularly in last season's injury crisis, so leaving him out will be no easy call. But with no midweek game to contend with, Tonali is primed for a start at Molineux.

Schar's return is likely to come at the expense of Emil Krafth, who has performed admirably as a makeshift centre-back alongside Dan Burn, but Howe faces more dilemmas in the full-back roles. Tino Livramento has got the nod over Kieran Trippier at right-back and is likely to start again on Sunday.

But, with Livramento being away with England over the past fortnight, and Trippier working closely with the rest of the squad back on Tyneside, it wouldn't be a huge shock if the experienced defender was given his first Premier League start of the season at Wolves.

On the oppositive flank, Lewis Hall impressed for England Under-21s and has started two games already for United this term. However, Lloyd Kelly has been handed the left-back role against Bournemouth and Tottenham, setting up Harvey Barnes' opener against Spurs, so will likely keep the starting shirt at Molineux.

Howe fielded an attacking front trio against Spurs, with Barnes coming in for Jacob Murphy after impressing in cameo roles so far. He and Anthony Gordon can alternate between right and left flanks, and are expected to continue this formation this weekend, although Murphy's assist for Alexander Isak's winner last time out will not have gone unnoticed.

Newcastle predicted XI vs Southampton: Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Kelly; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Barnes, Gordon, Isak.