Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle has pledged to field a strong side for tonight's Carabao Cup tie against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, with the Magpies' writers split on whether to rotate after Sunday's win over Crystal Palace.
Jaissle's strong-side pledge
Jaissle has vowed to pick a strong team, hinting there may be few or no changes from the side that beat Crystal Palace. He made five changes for that game, with United looking solid and creating chances, particularly in a 15-minute spell after half-time.
Rotation options exist, especially with Everton heading to St James' Park on Monday night, but the head coach is treating the cup tie as a priority in a season without European fixtures.
Writers' preferred XIs
Lee Ryder believes this is Newcastle's best chance of a trophy this season and would bring Anthony Elanga in from the start to get an hour in his legs after injury. He would also hand Sean Steur a chance in midfield and give Bazoumana Toure his opportunity, while resting Joelinton, Joe Willock, Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy for the Premier League game. His XI: Hornicek, Dedic, Schar, Burn, Hall, Steur, Gonzalez, Wissa, Toure, Elanga, Osula.
Sean McCormick argues against changing a winning team, noting the back four looked more solid, Nico Gonzalez had his best game for two months alongside Joelinton, and Will Osula looked a bigger threat up front. His XI: Hornicek; Dedic, Schar, Burn, Hall; Gonzalez, Joelinton; Murphy, Willock, Barnes; Osula.
Stuart Jamieson would make three changes, all in the forward line, bringing in Elanga for Murphy, Jacob Ramsey for Willock in the No 10 role, and Toure for Barnes. His XI: Hornicek, Dedic, Schar, Burn, Hall, Gonzalez, Joelinton, Ramsey, Elanga, Toure, Osula.
Keeping the same XI
Ross Gregory would keep the same starting XI, with Lewis Hall possibly needing a rest and players like Osula, Amar Dedic and Dan Burn needing monitoring after lengthy injuries, but making plenty of changes from the bench in the second half. His XI: Hornicek, Dedic, Schar, Burn, Hall; Gonzalez, Joelinton, Willock; Murphy, Osula, Barnes.
Fans are invited to pick their own starting XI from the squad for tonight's cup match.
