Newcastle team news ahead of crunch game against Crystal Palace
Newcastle United travel to Selhurst Park for one of three early Sunday games in the Premier League, as the Magpies aim to turn around their recent misfortunes.
After suffering back-to-back defeats for the first time this season, including a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa, Newcastle hope to avoid a third straight defeat and end their recent away-day blues.
Matthias Jaissle is expected to go with a similar lineup, with a couple of absentees but some welcome returns to the bench, along with a few minor tweaks to the starting eleven.
Two key players back in training
Anthony Elanga and Jacob Ramsey returned to training this week after both recently suffered injury setbacks. Jaissle mentioned in his pre-match press conference that both players were back on the grass and could be in the matchday squad.
Ramsey and Elanga are unlikely to start, but there is a good chance they will make the bench, which would be a boost to Newcastle’s squad, as the absence of both players has been felt.
A chance for Will Osula with Matías Fernández Pardo absent
Matías Fernández Pardo is out due to illness, giving William Osula the chance to play in the front three.
Osula recently returned to the bench in the 4-1 defeat to Coventry and has made substitute appearances in the last two games. Jaissle has been pleased with his progress in training, and he could start.
With Pardo missing and Wissa potentially being demoted to a struggling midfield role, Jaissle may look to Osula’s pace and ability to cause chaos to trouble the struggling Palace defence.
Will Sean Steur start?
Newcastle fans have been crying out for Sean Steur to start, given the issues they have had in midfield. Jaissle didn’t give anything away when he spoke to the media on Friday.
He did, however, say that Steur needs to keep building the maturity and confidence required to play in the Premier League. He has been training regularly and doesn’t have any injuries, but it could well be another appearance from the bench for the 18-year-old.
The defensive situation
Image: Newcastle United Training Session | Serena Taylor/GettyImages
Tino Livramento remains out with an injury, with Lewis Miley recently filling in at right-back due to Amar Dedic’s minor injury setback. However, Dedic has been coming off the bench during these back-to-back defeats, and Jaissle has alluded to the possibility of starting him at right-back again after positive signs in training.
Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman will still be available, but with Dan Burn now back in the fold after coming on as a substitute, Jaissle could consider putting the 34-year-old Newcastle captain in from the start, too.
The Magpies are starting to get their key players back together, with some closer to returning to the starting eleven, and it couldn’t have come at a better time, with Newcastle needing results after recent defeats.
Not all will be in line to start, but at least it will provide some hope in a must-win game, given their record at Selhurst Park, where they have only won once in their past eleven matches. That was a 2-0 victory under Steve Bruce six years ago.
