Star man gamble, negative impact and new chance to shine as Eddie Howe makes key Newcastle decision


There's a big call for Eddie Howe to make at St James' Park this weekend as Newcastle United attempt to tackle champions Manchester City with uncertainty surrounding who will be named up top for the Magpies.

Alexander Isak is playing through the pain at present and has not trained all week as he deals with a broken toe. With his deputy, Callum Wilson, also sidelined, it remains to be seen who Howe will opt for at the tip of his three-pronged attack.

Does he risk a half-fit Isak, gambling on his fitness? Does he potentially limit Newcastle's potency by playing Anthony Gordon out of his position and through the middle? Or does he roll the dice and finally throw William Osula in from the outset, giving him his chance to shine.

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We put the question to our Chronicle Live team to get their verdict.

Lee Ryder

We all saw what happens when playing stars who are not fully fit, so how much of a gamble do Newcastle United want to take with Alexander Isak here? When Sven Botman came out last season and admitted he'd been playing with an ACL injury that should have sent major alarm bells off at St James' Park.

But still the injuries have kept coming, despite the arrival of performance director James Bunce. Of course, Isak's toe injury can't be compared to Botman's serious knee injury but we find ourselves at the same point as last season, basically a club taking risks with injured players. Personally I wouldn't risk a player who barely trained last week and hasn't done anything so far this week.

That being the case I'm going with Anthony Gordon through the middle, Harvey Barnes on left and I'd give Miguel Almiron his chance on the right. Osula is a great option from the bench.

Ciaran Kelly

Starting a player with a broken toe? Really? Again?! It did not exactly work out last week on an afternoon Alexander Isak had just three touches inside the Fulham box.

However, that was as much down to a poor team performance and a lack of service - Isak could easily have equalised for Newcastle if Fabian Schar had squared it - and it was rather telling that the record signing still managed to play a full 90 minutes at Craven Cottage.

Although Isak has not trained much this week, I would still be minded to start him given that he could have the night off against AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night.

Not only do Newcastle lack a senior natural alternative - Isak is one of those game-changers who will relish a game like this even if he is not at 100%. Manchester City defenders certainly won't want to see his name on the team sheet tomorrow.

Newcastle United's Alexander Isak
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak -Credit:Newcastle United via Getty Image

Aaron Stokes

It won't be the most popular choice - and I highly doubt Eddie Howe will make this decision - but I'd like to see William Osula thrown in from the start.

We've yet to really see the £15m man in action but I, and a lot of other supporters, were impressed with his display during the striker's only start for Newcastle in the Sela Cup. Now, of course, Ligue 1's Brest is a world away from Manchester City but I don't want to risk a serious injury to Alexander Isak and I think you should keep Anthony Gordon on either flank.

Osula may not be ready in Howe's eyes but the youngster does have over 20 Premier League appearances to his name thanks to his Sheffield United exploits last term - so lining up from the start in the top flight isn't totally alien to him.

It isn't ideal but let's give the raw talent a chance to show what he can do against the best team in the league.

Andrew Musgrove

It's a horrible but somewhat inevitable position that Eddie Howe finds himself in - without an established strike to turn to with his first choice potential out.

We could go over old ground and point out that United should have tried to find someone to replace Callum Wilson in the summer and move their number nine on for what they could get, but there's little point in doing so, and in all honestly, the market wasn't exactly on their side.

So Saturday, it's going to be Anthony Gordon up front. Just writing that sentence makes me uneasy. But who else has Howe got? William Osula? If you don't think he's ready to feature against the likes of Wolves or Bournemouth, then you certainly don't throw him in against Man City.

Gordon will be Howe's choice and mine - reluctantly.

Stuart Jamieson

When we were discussing the Gordon/Barnes debate a few weeks ago, I said that your best players should start in their best positions, and there's no reason to move away from that now.

However, it does mean something of a gamble against Man City this weekend. If Isak is not right then let's not take the risk. Will Osula was signed for the future but if he's the one fit striker then he should start.

Let's see what the lad is about - he'll never get a better chance to make a huge impression on his full debut, in front of a packed St James' Park against Pep Guardiola's champions.

United will need to support him, both in terms of ensuring he's not isolated on the pitch, but giving him plenty of good service. City won't be expecting it and it means Gordon can prosper in his left-wing role.