Newcastle United supporters would start Alexander Isak on the bench for today’s clash against Crystal Palace. Despite scoring a last-minute winner to sucker punch Fulham a week ago, ChronicleLive readers have named the Swede on the bench in their fan XI.
Eddie Howe has rarely fielded a two-man attack during his 14-month reign as Newcastle manager. However, in desperate need of three points, the 45-year-old went gung-ho in search of a win last weekend.
Iska, Callum Wilson, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron were all on the pitch when the 89-minute goal was scored. Toon number nine Wilson is without a goal in seven games across all competitions but fans have decided to stick with the striker in Howe’s trusted 4-3-3 system.
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Joelinton has been deployed out wide since the World Cup break but Bruno Guimaraes’ ankle injury could force the Magpies boss into a rethink. There is an outside chance the latter could feature but, not willing to take that risk, supporters would move Joelinton into midfield.
That means Allan Saint-Maximin, who played the entire second half against Fulham, has been chosen to start for the first time since August. On that occasion, the Frenchman bagged a late, late, late equaliser to sicken the Wolverhampton crowd and snatch a vital away point.
A hamstring injury has frustrated his season since but Howe could unleash the maverick winger on Palace today. Elsewhere, ChronicleLive readers have selected an unchanged starting line-up, with Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff in midfield accompanied by the customary back five of Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman and Dan Burn.
ChronicleLive readers’ XI
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Joelinton, Willock; Almiron, Saint-Maximin, Wilson
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