🏆 Crystal Palace (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction
12 months on from Eddie Howe's arrival, the unambitious Newcastle United we once knew under Mike Ashley is already unrecognisable.
He arrived when we were winless and stuck in the bottom three. Now, a year on from his appointment, we sit third in the Premier League, are unbeaten in our last nine games and go into our Carabao Cup clash with Crystal Palace full of confidence, hope and momentum.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday morning, Howe had this to say ahead of the game:
“In every competition we enter, we want to try and give the best presentation of ourselves. I said very early days here that my dream is to try and win something for Newcastle and that hasn’t changed.
"We want to win, we want to progress and we’re ambitious that we can dream and dream big. That’s what I’ve tried to encourage at the football club and the players have embraced that. They mirror my thoughts.
“There’s no dead games here. Every competition is huge.“
One thing is clear. We are heading into this game determined to win and fully focused, with Howe dreaming of delivering a trophy on Tyneside and the players embracing his drive to perform in every competition.
Team news
Kieran Trippier has been passed fit despite feeling his hamstring on Sunday and Callum Wilson is still a "little run down" after illness forced him off at half-time at Southampton.
Joelinton is back from suspension and Karl Darlow fit again, but Alexander Isak (thigh) and Emil Krafth (ACL) remain out.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Lascelles, Burn, Targett – Shelvey, Joelinton, Anderson – Fraser, Wood, Saint-Maximin.
We are clearly taking cup competitions seriously these days, but a much changed team doesn't mean a weak one, as I expect those who come in to be desperate to impress after a series of unchanged sides.
I think Nick Pope will keep his place in goal, mainly because I expect our back four to be much changed. I see Matt Targett coming in at left-back, Dan Burn moving across and partnering Jamaal Lascelles and Kieran Trippier keeping his place just to keep some familiarity to our defence. That said, it would be no surprise if Javier Manquillo starts given the hamstring scare we saw at Southampton.
In midfield, Jonjo Shelvey could make his first start of the season alongside Joelinton; who will be fresh after a one-game ban gave him a rest on Sunday. The third slot in midfield is harder to call. I think Bruno will be given a night off - he'll be shattered after recently becoming a Dad for the first time - so think it'll be between Sean Longstaff and Elliot Anderson. The latter might edge it, as he surely needs game time in the cups to justify our decision to resist a summer loan.
Up top, Chris Wood seems certain to replace a "run down" Callum Wilson, with Allan Saint-Maximin making his first start since August. It's hard to know what Howe will do with ASM, but he'll only build up his match fitness by playing games and has trained over the past fortnight. On the other flank, Ryan Fraser seems a decent bet to start and will be eager to impress after Jacob Murphy has edged him out of the side in recent months. Almiron is like the Durraccel bunny so could go again, but he's another that could be protected for Saturday after he was forced off with fatigue at St Mary's.
Crystal Palace's one to watch: Ebere Eze - It remains to be seen how much Vieira will rotate, but he's a superb player and the man making them tick in recent weeks. He's elusive, glides with the ball and offers that sprinkle of quality from open play and dead ball situations.
Prediction
Palace are a good side who've come into form after winning three of their last four games, but I fancy us to keep the run going with another victory here.
The players are on a high, Howe is desperate to give the fans a cup run and we'll have plenty of fresh legs and fringe men who'll be desperate to impress.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Crystal Palace
