Howe to make four changes? – Predicted Newcastle side to face Bournemouth tonight

Domestic football will finally return at St James' Park tonight, with us facing Bournemouth in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.

A big crowd is expected, but it'll be tough to predict the side Eddie Howe goes with almost six weeks on from our 1-0 win over Chelsea.

Keeping form, fitness and today’s opposition in mind, here’s the side we expect to start and why:

(4-3-3): Karius – Trippier, Lascelles, Burn, Targett – Guimaraes, Longstaff, Joelitnon – Almiron, Wood, Anderson.

Howe didn’t give much away on the injury front in Friday’s press conference, so some of these selections presume those who missed the Rayo Vallecano friendly were simply being saved for today.

I wonder if the likes of Saint-Maximin, Wilson, Willock and Botman will be kept back for Leicester away on Boxing Day, but think Karius could be rewarded for his impressive display against Al-Hilal.

Schar - who turns 31 today - may be given extra time to recover after he was forced off with an injury in Switzerland’s last World Cup game. On the flip side, Bruno didn’t play much for Brazil and posted his pre-match tweet last night, so I fancy our midfield maestro to start.

Joelinton, Burn and Almiron all missed out over the weekend so should come back in, with Wood and Anderson leading contenders to start in attack if Wilson and ASM aren’t risked.

Manquillo could easily come in at right-back, but Trippier’s influence is huge – at both ends – and could be key if we are missing several first-team stars.