Newcastle United kick off their Premier League season in 26 days against Nottingham Forest. Eddie Howe has added three solid arrivals so far, bolstering the backline with Matt target, Nick Pope and the highly-coveted Sven Botman.
A trio of defensive additions gives the Toon boss a selection dilemma ahead of the new campaign. In goal, a tough decision presents itself as Pope battles it out with Martin Dubravka for the number one jersey. The latter has had a firm grip on the goalkeeping spot since arriving in 2018 but Pope would have surely been given assurances on his first-team opportunities.
Defence also gives Howe a headache following Botman’s arrival. As a left-sided centre-back, Dan Burn is the obvious choice to miss out but his displays during the back end of last season saw him earn cult-hero status on Tyneside. Kieran Trippier and Matt Targett are shoo-ins to start at full-back providing both remain fit.
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In midfield, the Magpies fielded Jonjo Shelvey as a deep-lying midfielder in 2021-22, allowing Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes or Joe Willock to get forward. Sean Longstaff is another option after impressing in the final two games of the season.
Up front is the arguably weakest area of Newcastle’s line-up as Toon chiefs search for a breakthrough in the market. Callum Wilson is the undisputed choice to lead the line in Howe’s preferred 4-3-3 system but Chris Wood is the only alternative. Out wide, Allan Saint-Maximin walks into a starting berth while Miguel Almiron, Ryan Fraser and Jacob Murphy compete for the opposite flank.
ChronicleLive’s current best NUFC XI
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Target; Shelvey, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Fraser, Saint-Maximin, Wilson
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