8 changes? The new-look Newcastle side that could face Man City tonight - Predicted line-ups

Ahead of tonight's Carabao Cup clash with Man City, it's time to predict the side we're backing Eddie Howe to select in a few hours time.

Keeping in mind injuries, fatigue and our busy schedule, here's the side I've gone with and why:

(4-3-3): Dubravka – Livramento, Lascelles, Botman, Hall – Longstaff, Miley, Tonali – Murphy, Isak, Anderson.

OUT: Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Bruno, Almiron, Barnes, Wilson? - IN: Dubravka, Livramento, Lascelles, Hall, Tonali, Miley, Murphy, Isak?

The question is, will Howe attack what could be a weakened City side in a bid to keep the momentum going or rotate heavily save several key players for upcoming games with Burnley and PSG?

He hinted at “utilising his squad” in yesterday's press conference, so I think we’ll see more of the latter. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, allowing a host of fresh and hungry players to come into the side and take their chance.

I think Dubravka could get the nod over Pope – Howe said he still had a 'big part to play' over the summer and if he’s not playing cup games, I don’t know when he’ll get the minutes.

In the middle, I think Jamaal Lascelles will be handed a rare start alongside Sven Botman, giving Fabian Schar a rest. At right back, I expect Tino Livramento to get his first start, giving bionic man Kieran Trippier a rare rest.

It could be Matt Targett at left-back and the versatile Lewis Hall on the left side of a midfield three, but I'll go for Lewis Miley in alongside Sandro Tonali and Sean Longstaff, with Hall in at left-back. I think Bruno is likely to be rested, as he's had a busier schedule than Longstaff; who didn't go away on international duty and missed our first few games of the season.

In attack, I think we’ll see Anthony Gordon given a well deserved rest after he ended up playing 80 minutes on Sunday. Harvey Barnes is out and I expect the game is likely to come too soon for Joelinton, meaning Elliot Anderson could operate as a left winger. Jacob Murphy down the right feels more than likely, as he’s started just once all season and played just four minutes in the league, with Alexander Isak up top after Wilson was preferred to the Swede on Sunday.

Predicted Man City XI: Ortega – Lewis, Akanji, Ake, Gomez – Phillips, Kovacic, Nunes – Doku, Alvarez, Grealish.