Will injuries and suspensions to key players affect Newcastle United’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League? Sadly, the impressive and consistent left back Lewis Hall has suffered a foot injury that will rule him out for the rest of the season. Defender Sven Botman is also out for a lengthy period. Anthony Gordon picked up a needless red card for violent conduct against Brighton and will miss the clash with West Ham as well as the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool next weekend at Wembley. Here’s how we think the Magpies will line up at the London stadium for this clash with Graham Potter’s West Ham United.
Newcastle United Predicted Lineup vs West Ham
How Newcastle Have Lined up Recently
Chances are Eddie Howe will try to go into the final on a high with his strongest line up against West Ham who have won their last two games against Leicester City and Arsenal. Martin Dubravka replaced Nick Pope in goal for the FA Cup defeat at St James Park against Brighton while the likelihood is for Tino Livramento to replace Hall at left back for the rest of the season.
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Fabian Schar and Dan Burn remain first choice as the centre-back pairing. Kieran Trippier should be given an extended run in the right back role given that Livramento will move to the left. Howe has midfield options in Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff, but it was Lewis Miley who played for an hour in this cup-tie with Sandro Tonali and Joelinton. Up front, Harvey Barnes also got an hour under his belt alongside the returning Alexander Isak with Anthony Gordon on the other side.
Newcastle Recent Form and Tactics
As we reach the business end of the season, injuries and suspensions are playing havoc with Howe trying to get his strongest starting eleven on to the pitch. At Anfield recently, a 4-2-3-1 set up against champions-elect Liverpool saw them lose by two goals to nil without getting a single shot on target during the ninety minutes.
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The biggest cost in the FA cup defeat at St James Park to Brighton when the approach was a more familiar 4-3-3 was the frustrating and so unnecessary red card to Gordon that sees him miss three games for violent conduct. Back-to-back defeats will strengthen the resolve of the manager to get his team back to winning ways before the Carabao Cup final next weekend at Wembley. The Geordies have to remember that Champions League qualification is still very much within their grasp.
Newcastle United Injuries to Consider
Botman looks set for knee surgery and is out of the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool at Wembley next weekend. The Swedish defender had only just returned from a ten-month absence in January after surgery on his ACL. Lewis Hall will be unavailable for Newcastle United and England duty as he misses out for a while with a foot injury. Jamaal Lascelles has been a long-term casualty. Losing Gordon through suspension is a blow but Kieran Trippier should be able to shake off a lower back injury.
Newcastle United Predicted Lineup
GK Nick Pope
RB Kieran Trippier
RCB Fabian Schar
LCB Dan Burn
LB Tino Livramento
RM Bruno Guimaraes
CM Sandro Tonali
LM Joelinton
RW Jacob Murphy
STR Alexander Isak
LW Joe Willock
