WEDNESDAY’S Carabao Cup victory over Chelsea has left Eddie Howe with a series of selection issues to ponder ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League home game with Arsenal.
What are the key conundrums Howe will be pondering ahead of the lunchtime kick-off on Tyneside?
KELLY AT CENTRE-HALF?
Since signing from Bournemouth in the summer, most of Lloyd Kelly’s Newcastle appearances have come at left-back. On Wednesday, however, the 26-year-old impressed while playing alongside Fabian Schar at centre-half, with a series of crucial second-half blocks helping the Magpies keep a clean sheet.
“Lloyd can definitely establish himself as a centre-half, for sure,” said Howe. “He is a very good player in both positions. Last year, for Bournemouth, he pretty much dovetailed between both positions very well.
“For us, he’s been used early season as a left-back, but the last few appearances he’s been a centre-back. He looked really comfortable on Wednesday and did really well. He is unique in the respect that he’s got really, really good top-end pace, is very athletic and has a lovely left foot as well. I’m very pleased with him.”
Dan Burn struggled for the vast majority of last weekend’s league defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, repeatedly being turned and pulled out of position by Nicolas Jackson. Might this be the time to hand Kelly a first league start as a centre-half?
TONALI AND GUIMARAES
Bruno Guimaraes has spent most of the last two seasons playing as the deep-lying member of Newcastle’s midfield three. This term, that has meant a returning Sandro Tonali having to play on Guimaraes’ right-hand side rather than in his own preferred central role.
On Wednesday, with Guimaraes starting on the bench, Tonali played centrally as a ‘number six’. It was no coincidence that he delivered his best performance in a Newcastle shirt since his explosive debut against Aston Villa.
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Tonali is a more controlled presence than Guimaraes, and playing centrally, he can dictate the pace and tempo of the game. Guimaraes should be capable of playing in a more advanced role, indeed pushing forward might play to his strengths given his effectiveness around the edge of the 18-yard box.
“With Sandro, it all depends on the game,” said Howe. “Sometimes, your central player can be more involved. Other times, your higher players are more involved. I don’t think Sandro was necessarily heavily involved in our build-up phase on Wednesday, but I think he did a really good job of controlling space and making sure we were disciplined as a team defensively.
“He showed a really high level of tactical ability and understanding of that role, considering he hasn’t played it in a while. He can play both very well. I would not want to label him in any one role, and we need players who are adaptable.”
WILLOCK BACK IN THE SIDE
Newcastle have missed Joe Willock’s energy and athleticism during his lengthy injury absences. The former Arsenal midfielder adds something completely different to the Magpies’ midfield mix, not least because he offers a goal threat that is often lacking in most of his fellow midfielders.
Willock looked some way short of his best when he returned in the early weeks of the campaign, but his performance against Chelsea on Wednesday represented a marked improvement. He dovetailed effectively with Joelinton down the left-hand side, and helped Newcastle deliver the kind of unified high-press that was such a key part of their play in the season when they finished in the top four.
“I thought Wednesday was probably his best game since he's come back,” said Howe. “I think he physically looked really good and that is his game, so if he's not feeling physically good, I think you lose a major part of his armoury.
“He's been a big miss for us because he adds a totally different feel in our midfield, a real goal threat and the athletic qualities we need.”
GORDON ON THE RIGHT
With Joelinton and Harvey Barnes alternative options on the left-hand side, Howe has moved Anthony Gordon to the right in a couple of recent matches.
The England international would much prefer to be on the left, where he can cut in and offer a goalscoring threat with his right foot, and his early performances on the right were somewhat underwhelming.
There were signs of progress on Wednesday though, and with Jacob Murphy a major injury doubt because of a hamstring issue, Gordon could once again find himself on the right flank against Arsenal.
“Anthony will do what’s best for the team,” said Howe. “He’s got no issue with that. Of course, we want to see him being effective, and I thought he was effective on Wednesday. I thought he played well and had some really good moments.
“I don’t see an issue. He’s never said to me that he would refuse to play in a position, but no player would because they want to play football. Anthony is a really good team player, as well as being an outstanding individual. It’s just about making sure we get him the ball in the right areas so he can be effective in that position.”
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