NUFC VS LEI: Newcastle Team News and predicted Xi(4-3-3): Saint Maximin and Elliott Anderson to start as Eddie Howe makes changes in final home game of the season
Newcastle United will return to St. James’ Park on Monday as they take on Leicester City in their final home game of the season, knowing a point will be enough to secure Champions League football for next season.
Newcastle are three points ahead of Liverpool with two games left to play. So the Magpies need just one more point to secure a return to Europe’s top competition.
Still, Eddie Howe’s side will look to seal Champions League football in style with a comprehensive victory over Leicester City in front of their home crowd.
Eddie Howe’s long list of absentees will include Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, Sean Longstaff, and Matt Ritchie. Joe Willock went off holding his hamstring on Thursday and is out for the season. Meanwhile, Joelinton also received a knock but could recover in time to start here. Jacob Murphy will require a late fitness test as he continues his recovery from a thigh issue.
Howe is sure to opt for a 4-3-3 formation and could be forced into at least one change after midfielder Willock’s hamstring injury.
Nick Pope will play between the sticks for the Tyneside club as he hopes to secure his first Premier League clean sheet in a long time. As ever, Fabian Schar will partner Sven Botman at the centre of Newcastle’s backline, flanked by Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn.
With Sean Longstaff also suffering from fitness issues, young Elliot Anderson should get a deserved chance. The 20-year-old came on against Brighton and did not look out of place. And he should now get the chance to start just his second-ever game in the Premier League, slotting in as a right-midfielder alongside the Brazilian duo of Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton in the engine room.
Due to a quick turnaround between games, Alexander Isak could be rested for this game. Allan Saint-Maximin will be pushing to start here alongside an electric Miguel Almiron and a red-hot Callum Wilson, the latter of whom has scored 11 goals in his last five starts.
The attacking trio will fancy their chances of causing some problems up against Leicester’s shaky defence. Elsewhere, 17-year-old talented midfielder Lewis Miley made the bench against Brighton due to injury to Jacob Murphy and will likely make his senior debut for the club this Monday.
Predicted Lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Anderson, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin
