Newcastle United absolutely must bounce back against Sheffield United on Saturday, and Eddie Howe needs to make a change.
The Magpies have an immediate chance to put things right after their woeful display against Crystal Palace, as they prepare to welcome Sheffield United to St James’ Park.
Newcastle United will be massive favourites against the Premier League’s bottom side, but they can cause any side problems. They led twice against Manchester United on Wednesday night, after all.
Eddie Howe’s side must not underestimate the Blades, and this is the Newcastle United team we predict will start against Sheffield United
Major Newcastle change results in Lewis Hall starting
Howe needs to make one major change against Sheffield United, and that is the formation. The 3-4-3 worked against Tottenham, but it failed against Palace.
Now he must revert back 4-3-3, whilst also recalling Lewis Hall to the starting XI.
The £28million man should come back into the side to play left-back, having started the Magpies’ previous two games on the bench.
Hall suddenly looks much more comfortable at Premier League level, and we need his ability on the ball on Saturday. We can’t have Emil Krafth and Jacob Murphy starting at full-back, while it seems unlikely that Tino Livramento will feature based on Howe’s recent comments.
We are predicting Hall to come in for Murphy, with Krafth getting the nod at right-back. While the 29-year-old is more attacking, it would surely be a risk to have him on one side and Hall on the other. That is why we think – or hope – Howe goes with Krafth.
No alternatives in midfield for Newcastle
While Howe has the chance to change things in defence, it will likely be business as usual in midfield. That means Bruno Guimaraes starting alongside Sean Longstaff and Elliot Anderson.
Joe White is the only other alternative, but it would be a huge shock if Howe handed him his first ever Premier League start, especially given how important the game now is after the loss on Wednesday night.
Chance at redemption for Harvey Barnes
While Callum Wilson is available again after returning against Crystal Palace, it is still too soon for him to be starting games.
Therefore, we will likely see Howe stick with the same front three that were unable to find a way past Dean Henderson in midweek.
That means a start for Harvey Barnes, and this match is particularly important to him. It was the reverse fixture that saw him suffer an innocuous foot injury that cost him months of his career, and he will be keen to use the home game against Sheffield United as a chance to prove he is fully over the issue that plagued him so much.
Predicted XI vs Sheffield United: Dubravka; Krafth, Schar, Burn, Hall; Longstaff, Bruno, Anderson; Gordon, Isak, Barnes.
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