Newcastle United's first starting XI is an intriguing…

Newcastle United's first starting XI is an intriguing scrap with possible 'shock' and nailed on back four

There are still three weeks for Eddie Howe to whittle his starting XI down for that first Premier League game against Nottingham Forest.

And even though there has been no transfer breakthrough since Sven Botman the Toon boss hardly short of options. It's probably too early to make a call on what that starting line-up might be because there's still another four matches in which injuries could crop up.

Based on what we've seen so far though there has been nothing between Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka and it could well be a tight call for Howe. Dubravka was sharp and focused, making some fine saves, before being exposed for the only goal of the game against Mainz 05.

Pope is yet to concede one and has also made some important stops in his pre-season action so far. So Howe has thinking time and two solid options between the posts.

Does Howe's back four - on paper at least - pick itself? You'd think Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Botman and Matt Targett will make up that defensive rearguard when the season kicks off for real.

The midfield battle is extremely intriguing with Joelinton proving to be a really big presence in the middle in the two games against Mainz and 1860 Munich, while he also had assists and a goal against Gateshead. Bruno Guimaraes is surely an automatic choice.

So, if Howe plays the same 4-3-3 system that served him well last term there are a clutch of others fighting for the final spot along side the two boys from Brazil. Sean Longstaff and Jonjo Shelvey have both looked accomplished enough in pre-season and Joe Willock scored against the German third flight side.

Shelvey's seniority might get him the nod though and he has returned in ultra fit condition. Longstaff and Willock will argue they have offered more of an offensive threat and then there's Elliot Anderson who is proving he can live with the first-team.

Anderson starting would be a shock to many but he has barely put a foot wrong. And he's definitely physically ready.

And then you are talking about the front three, an area that Howe has some options in but knows he needs more to pick from. For all the effort of Chris Wood, Callum Wilson is favourite to start if fit.

Allan Saint-Maximin has had a mixed pre-season but still has time to get into the stride we know he's capable of and it's difficult to see him not starting against Forest. The third spot will probably be a straight fight between Ryan Fraser or Miguel Almiron.

Fraser has done OK in pre-season while Almiron has went down a lot of blind alleys. It will be an interesting last few games for Howe and the supporters, that's for sure.

Newcastle United's first starting XI is an intriguing scrap with possible 'shock' and nailed on back four

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