Joelinton replacement & tonight's dilemma - Predicted Newcastle team vs Man City

Ahead of our first home game for 2024, it's time to predict which team Eddie Howe will select to take on Man City tonight.

Keeping in mind recent results, injuries and tonight's opposition, here's the side we're expecting him to select:

Predicted XI: Dubravka – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Miley – Almiron, Isak, Gordon.

Joelinton has been ruled out for six weeks and it seems Lewis Miley will almost certainly be his replacement, until another midfielder is signed (Kalvin Phillips?), as Joe Willock and Elliot Anderson won't be back "anytime soon", according to Howe.

There's limited options given the injury list - Callum Wilson, Harvey Barnes, Nick Pope and Jacob Murphy remain out - but the pre-match dilemma could be who starts at left-back.

Dan Burn was rock solid in the derby and tends to get the nod, yet Tino Livramento was the best player on the pitch when we beat City in the cup a few months ago. His ability to defend one-vs-one and pace at both ends could be key; something we lacked when Burn was torn to shreds in our 3-1 defeat to Forest.

However, last season's favoured back four kept a clean sheet at Sunderland and Howe may be looking to find some consistency. I'd prefer Livramento against City, but I reckon we'll see Burn keep his place.