Newcastle United predicted line-up vs Brighton with Isak back and Gordon dilemma
It might be less about which players Eddie Howe picks to start Newcastle United's Premier League game with Brighton and Hove Albion this weekend, and more about how they line up.
With Alexander Isak back and Kieran Trippier ruled out, the Magpies head coach is likely to make at least two changes to the side which started the goalless draw at Everton before the international break. Isak, you would imagine, will come straight back into the side in the central striker role, with Newcastle missing the Swede during his two-game absence with a broken toe.
It would also be a huge surprise if anyone but Tino Livramento replaced Trippier at right-back. The former Chelsea and Southampton youngster started the season in the side and looks set for another chance to underline his credentials in the coming weeks. Lewis Hall seems to have edged ahead of Lloyd Kelly at left-back, with the England Under-21 star expected to continue in the side.
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With Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes coming through thei international exertions for Italy and Brazil respecitvely, they will likely start alongside Joelinton in the same midfield trio, although Sean Longstaff and Joe Willock continue to press for a role.
So the key decisions Howe will have to make appears to be in the attacking wide positions. Anthony Gordon is guaranteed to start but which side he begins the game on will probably depend on who gets the nod for the other winger role.
Harvey Barnes is United's top goalscorer but prefers the left flank favoured by Gordon, while Jacob Murphy would be a more conventional right-wing option. Before Isak's injury, Howe went for a Barnes-Gordon combination, with both swapping flanks throughout the match, and I would expect that to be the case today.
That leaves Murphy and Miguel Almiron - who made a positive impression as a second-half substitute against Everton - as bench options to change the game if needed.
Newcastle United predicted line-up vs Brighton: Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Barnes, Gordon, Isak.