Eddie Howe facing FOUR dilemmas ahead of tomorrow's clash with Brentford
After a 4-1 win at Fulham last time out, we'll be looking to land back-to-back wins for the first time this season when Brentford come to town tomorrow.
A convincing victory often leads to a manager sticking with the same 11, but with a few players back from injuries and fringe men performing well in their absence, Howe will be faced with a few selection dilemmas ahead of this one.
Here's a few of them following today's injury updates:
- Does Sean Longstaff keep his place now Joelinton is fit?
- Does Dan Burn keep his place at left-back or will Matt Targett return?
- Does Jacob Murphy keep his place down the left after impressing at Fulham?
- Does he throw a fit-again Allan Saint-Maximin in from the start?
Starting on point one, I can't see Longstaff losing his place for a few reasons. Howe has spoken highly of him this week, not to mention the fact he allows Bruno Guimaraes to play in a slightly more advanced role. Bring Joelinton back into the engine room and Bruno has to play in that No 6 role that limits his ability to make things happen in the final third.
As for the Jacob Murphy dilemma, I wouldn't be surprised if Joelinton takes his place down the left. We've missed Saint-Maximin badly in our last two home games, but he seems more likely to come on from the bench after six weeks out with a hamstring injury? With that in mind, Joelinton's height, physicality and improved dribbling statistics - the best success rate outside the 'big six' - could see him return in a wide position if his spot in a midfield three is taken by Longstaff.
At left-back, Burn did well at Fulham but offers little from an offensive point of view, meaning this game could be better suited to Matt Targett. Then again, the 6ft 7' Geordie could help us defend set pieces against a big Brentford side, so there's pros and cons with sticking with the Blyth-born defender.
