Predicted Newcastle team v Nottingham Forest

Looking at the Newcastle team v Nottingham Forest.

Eddie Howe and his players hoping to bounce back from that defeat at Man City.

United still with a formline of 12 wins in their last 15 games.

A win on Sunday would take Newcastle to within three points of Forest and third place in the table.

So, what can we expect the Newcastle team v Nottingham Forest to be?

As a starting point, this was the Newcastle team v Manchester City:

Dubravka, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall, Bruno, Tonali, Willock, Gordon, Isak, Murphy

On Friday morning, Eddie Howe gave us some pointers as to fitness and availability.

Jamaal Lascelles now outside on the grass and working with physios, though not expected back until later in the season.

Joelinton and Sven Botman progressing well almost certainly neither of them back for Sunday, as Eddie Howe makes sure they are fully fit before risking them.

So seemingly only that trio unavailable.

Anyway, my take on all of this, my best guesstimate of the Newcastle team v Nottingham Forest:

Pope, Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall, Bruno, Tonali, Willock, Gordon, Isak, Murphy

If this is indeed the line-up, it would mean two changes, with Pope and Livramento replacing Dubravka and Trippier.

My feeling is that whilst Dubravka has done well, there have been an increasing number of goals conceded that I think Nick Pope would have saved. Pope has better positioning and often makes saves look relatively easy due to this, whilst he is also excellent at sweeping behind his defence, for sure he would have saved Trippier’s blushes on that first goal at Man City. I also think Pope would have saved that second one at the Etihad.

Speaking of Trippier, he has done well recently and was exceptional in the Arsenal semi-final second leg for example. However, I think Livramento for sure comes back in, especially handy with the pace of the Forest wingers.

With Joelinton and Botman missing, Eddie Howe has reduced options. A better bench than recently but I think on balance the likes of Willock gets another chance after Man City, Longstaff and Miley remaining on the bench. However, I wouldn’t be shocked if indeed say Miley did start.

Considering how poor pretty much all of the team were last weekend, there could be the odd other surprise. However, I think the likes of Barnes, Wilson and others will remain as impact players off the bench for this huge game.

Newcastle United upcoming matches:

Sunday 23 February – Newcastle v Forest (2pm) Sky Sports

Wednesday 26 February – Liverpool v Newcastle (8.15pm) TNT Sports

Sunday 2 March –  Newcastle v Brighton (1.45pm) – FA Cup fifth round ITV1

Monday 10 March – West Ham v Newcastle (8pm) Sky Sports

Saturday 16 March – Newcastle v Liverpool (4.30pm) Carabao Cup final! Sky Sports

Weekend of Saturday 29 March –  If NUFC get past Brighton, FA Cup quarter-final weekend (TBC)