Looking at this Newcastle team v AFC Wimbledon.
Eddie Howe and his players looking to build on that excellent performance and result against Manchester City
Newcastle United aiming to move into the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.
Victory over AFC Wimbledon would then see Newcastle with a home match against Chelsea, for a place in the quarter-finals.
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So what can we expect the Newcastle team v AFC Wimbledon to be?
As a starting point, this was the Newcastle team v AFC Wimbledon:
Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall, Joelinton, Bruno, Tonali, Barnes, Gordon, Jacob Murphy
Eddie Howe gave an injury and availability update on Monday morning.
The Head Coach saying Alexander Isak, Callum Wilson, Jamaal Lascelles, Sven Botman and Lewis Miley are all still unavailable.
Eddie Howe saying he would be checking out both Kieran Trippier and Sandro Tonali, as they came off late in that Man City game. However, both appeared to be suffering from cramp, rather than any kind of injury that would rule them out tonight.
A very difficult Newcastle team v AFC Wimbledon to predict.
The NUFC boss making clear that, as expected, he will be using his squad in this match and giving a number of players rare starts.
Anyway, my take on all of this after the above, my best guesstimate of the Newcastle team v AFC Wimbledon is:
Dubravka, Krafth, Kelly, Targett, Tonali, Longstaff, Willock, Barnes, Osula, Almiron
So that would make it nine changes from the Man City match.
Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall, Joelinton, Bruno, Gordon and Jacob Murphy dropping out.
With Dubravka, Krafth, Kelly, Targett, Longstaff, Willock, Osula and Almiron coming into the team.
Changing the entire defence wouldn’t be such a radical thing in my opinion, as for example, when preparing for Man City in training. A full scale practice match would have almost certainly seen Dubravka and that back four lining up against the team Eddie Howe planned to play on Saturday gone.
I think anybody who starts in midfield and attack tonight, who also started against Manchester City, will almost definitely be planned to be subbed off sometime in the second half tonight, with Everton on Saturday in mind.
I fancy Tonali to play in the Bruno role, with Willock and Longstaff coming in alongside him.
I have also gone with Barnes to keep his place on the left, but with Almiron coming in for a rare start on the right, with Osula making his first ever competitive start for Newcastle United through the middle.
Regardless of who starts, I think Eddie Howe will have a very strong bench, with options such as Gordon and others available if necessary.
Newcastle United upcoming match schedule, confirmed to end of November:
Tuesday 1 October 2024 – AFC Wimbledon v Newcastle (7.45pm) Sky Sports+ (To be played at St James’ Park)
Saturday 5 October – Everton v Newcastle (5.30pm) Sky Sports
Saturday 19 October – Newcastle v Brighton (3pm)
Sunday 27 October – Chelsea v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports
W/C Monday 28 October – AFC Wimbledon or Newcastle v Chelsea
Saturday 2 November – Newcastle v Arsenal (12.30pm) TNT Sports
Sunday 10 November – Forest v Newcastle (2pm) Sky Sports
Monday 25 November – Newcastle v West Ham (8pm) Sky Sports
Saturday 30 November – Crystal Palace v Newcastle
