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“Going to find it tough” – Pundit expects FA Cup challenges for NUFC if Bruce takes risks

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BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson expects Newcastle United will face a lot of challenges against Rochdale in the FA Cup if Steve Bruce takes a risk with his team selection.

Bruce will have a heavily depleted squad this weekend after our New Year’s Day defeat to Leicester City left the boss with an injury crisis, after losing five players in Jetro Willems, Javier Manquillo, Jonjo Shelvey, Fabian Schar and DeAndre Yedlin.

Our injury list now features a whopping eleven senior players, and only defender Paul Dummett is expected to be fit in time to face Rochdale, though long-term absentee Matt Ritchie could make his first appearance since August.

Lawrenson has blamed United having a small squad for the mounting injury problems we have suffered of late, as a lack of depth has meant Bruce could not rotate his players as often as he may have liked.

The former Liverpool defender now expects Bruce to face a lot of challenges in who he names to face Rochdale on Saturday, as too many alterations may see the Magpies crash out of the FA Cup in the Third Round.

“Newcastle have got a whole load of injuries to deal with after their festive programme,” Lawrenson noted in his column for BBC Sport. “Yes, they knew they had a busy schedule just like every else did, but if you don’t have the biggest of squads, then you are not able to rotate like the big teams do, and you pay the price.

Should Bruce name a full-strength side in the FA Cup?

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“The Magpies have been left short defensively, which will not help here, and they are going to find it tough if they try to rest too many more players at Spotland, because it is a tight little ground and it feels like the crowd are breathing down your neck.

“Rochdale had a scare themselves in the Second Round, where they needed a replay to beat non-league Boston, but they held Tottenham here in the Fifth Round a couple of years ago and they will be confident of doing the same on Saturday, and securing another pay-day with a replay.”

While we now may only have two fit centre-halves in Florian Lejeune and Federico Fernandez, depending on Dummett’s progress, it would be wrong to suggest Bruce has a small squad to play with as we boast six players than can play in central defence.

Bruce also had to leave out a number of senior players when he listed his 25-man squad for the Premier League season, while three ‘keepers, four full-backs, six midfielders and six forwards joined the six centre-halves who made the cut.

In other Newcastle United news, the club will look to sell a £54k-p/w player in the January market as part of a vast clear out at St. James’ Park.

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