Trippier decision, Tonali dilemma and ongoing battle as Howe answers three Newcastle questions


Club football returns this weekend and Eddie Howe has a few welcomed selection decisions to make as Newcastle United head to Molineux on Sunday. Wolverhampton has proved a tricky hunting ground for the Magpies in recent seasons but the north east outfit have a wealth of options at their disposal for the trip to the Midlands.

A good chunk of Howe's team picks itself at present, with Nick Pope in between the sticks, Fabian Schar expected to return in place of Emil Krafth, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton poised to start again, with a new-look front three of Alexander Isak, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes expected to once again lead the line.

However, there's contention over six players and three positions ahead of the visit to Wolves. With that in mind, we asked our Chronicle Live team to give us their verdict on whether it should be Tino Livramento or Kieran Trippier, Lewis Hall or Lloyd Kelly and Sandro Tonali or Sean Longstaff in Howe's starting XI this weekend.

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Lee Ryder

I think the time is right to bring Kieran Trippier back in the team ahead of what should be deemed a tricky away day at Wolves. In the last away game at AFC Bournemouth, Howe turned to Trippier the moment things started to go pear shaped and Tino Livramento was sacrificed.

That doesn't mean that Livramento should be benched, after all he had a very good game in the 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur but Howe knows he can mould the full-back pairing in a few different ways.

Trippier can play left-back and so can Tino but ultimately having the retired England defender on the field is key in my opinion. His leadership skills and ability from set-plays could be the all important factors of a tough day. I'd go with Trippier and Tino as full-backs with Lewis Hall and Lloyd Kelly benched.

As for the midfield options, this is genuinely a tough one. Sean Longstaff has not done anything wrong to lose his place. Given Tonali's demanding international fortnight with two 90 minutes stints completed, it points to a place on the bench for the Italian. But Longstaff will have to find his A-game to guarantee he stays in the team.

Verdict: Trippier, Livramento & Longstaff

Ciaran Kelly

It makes a welcome change for Newcastle United to have genuine selection dilemmas and you could make a convincing argument for any three of these six players to start at Molineux, particularly after Lewis Hall and Sandro Tonali's impressive displays while on international duty. However, I'm going to be really boring and stick rather than twist.

Tino Livramento made more clearances than any other player against Spurs while Lloyd Kelly gives Newcastle added height at the back, which will inevitably be needed on Sunday. If Fabian Schar is already coming in for Emil Krafth, I'd be wary of making multiple changes to the back four, particularly for a game on the road.

In midfield, Tonali has played a full 90 minutes in back-to-back games in quick succession for the first time in a year so I would hold off throwing him in from the start against Wolves, which would be his third start in just over a week after such a long time out, and instead introduce the Italy international from the off at Fulham the following week.

Verdict: Livramento, Kelly & Longstaff

Aaron Stokes

I'm extremely glad Newcastle United kept hold of Kieran Trippier in the face of late interest from Turkey as the Magpies ideally need two fantastic players, at least, battling it out in each position - and they now have that at right-back. That said, I'd still keep Tino Livramento in from the start at Wolves.

On the opposite flank, there's a real dilemma that even Eddie Howe has so far been undecided on. Lewis Hall enjoyed a fantastic international break when helping himself to two assists in England Under-21s' win over Austria Under-21s but in a game where Newcastle are likely to be a tad more defensive, with less possession, I think Lloyd Kelly is a better fit.

I wrote earlier this week that I didn't know how Howe was going to make a decision over his ideal midfield trio going forward but it's a great dilemma to have. Sandro Tonali has proven everyone wrong over his fitness capabilities and I'd allow him to continue his fine showings with a start on Sunday, despite his 180 minutes for Italy in recent days. That's no slight on Longstaff, who remains the unsung hero of Howe's midfield.

Verdict: Livramento, Kelly, Tonali

Stuart Jamieson

Sandro Tonali has to start for Newcastle at Wolves. Controlling the midfield counts for so much in the modern game and while United have players who can hurt any side on the break, they're at their best when they can control the play. Tonali has proved his fitness with Italy and, for me, comes in for Sean Longstaff, who is the ideal off-the-bench replacement when legs start to tire.

Elsewhere, it's a tougher call. Kieran Trippier remains a class act and United's starting XI is certainly no weaker with him in it, but I'm sticking with Tino Livramento. Howe has made his choice and should stick with it, even if that means a reduced role for Tripps.

On the other flank, I remain a big fan of Lewis Hall, but it would be harsh to drop Lloyd Kelly after a strong performance against Spurs. Hall needs to improve the defensive side of his game and you could argue the best way to do that is to play week-in, week-out, especially when Sven Botman returns and he has some pace behind him in a covering centre-half. Howe seems to be favouring Kelly, but like Livramento, I think it would benefit Newcastle in the long-term to persevere with Hall.

Verdict: Livramento, Hall & Tonali

James Smailes

Without stating it publicly, it feels like Eddie Howe has already made his full-back intentions clear with the absence of Kieran Trippier from the starting line-up this season so far. Much like the national team, the long-term future has usurped the past and present. Tino Livramento is ready and can only fulfil that international promise if given an opportunity to cement himself in the role.

There's nothing like the same sort of age and experience gap when we come to debate Lewis Hall or Lloyd Kelly. Hall has done nothing wrong but the shirt is Kelly's for now. A combination of Livramento and Hall at full-back could skew things a little too young for Howe and potentially leave Newcastle a little too exposed on the flanks. Kelly brings more experience and it feels less of a gamble given the Tino decision.

When it comes to the midfield the argument is simple and that's no slight on Sean Longstaff. Sandro Tonali is champing at the bit to be playing again, he looks fit enough to start and there's no doubting the quality and calmness with and without the ball his presence brings. He needs putting in from the start after his 20 minute cameo against Tottenham.

Verdict: Livramento, Kelly & Tonali