Newcastle United are back in Premier League action later this evening as they face a trip to the south coast to face Brighton and Hove Albion.
The season is effectively over for the Magpies with just one more game remaining after this one, they can’t be relegated nor can they reach the European spots.
PREDICTION?
Brighton win
Draw
Magpies win
And Steve Bruce is faced with a nightmare in terms of injuries with several members of his usual starting XI out of action, so what sort of side could he name at the AMEX tonight?
Here’s what we are predicting…
The 59-year-old could be forced into as many as four changes across the whole pitch.
Martin Dubravka will likely remain between the sticks as the regular number one goalkeeper, but in front of him, the defence has a new look.
Two central defenders in Fabian Schar and skipper Jamal Lascelles have been ruled out for the remainder of the season, meaning Bruce only has one senior option fit enough to play – Federico Fernandez.
Ciaran Clark and Florian Lejeune are long-term absentees.
It means Kelland Watts is in line to make his Magpies debut at 20 years of age. He was cleared to become part of the squad after FIFA relaxed regulations for the current campaign.
While Danny Rose is able to come back in having missed the defeat against his parent club while Javier Manquillo replaces DeAndre Yedlin at right-back after another waste of opportunity.
Nabil Bentaleb and Jonjo Shelvey could continue to partner each other in central midfield, but there’s no place for Allan Saint-Maximin – Toon’s £20m summer signing has been carrying a knock for several weeks and there’s just no point in risking him this time around.
Therefore, Matt Ritchie may lineup on the right with Joelinton coming in on the other flank.
It means Miguel Almiron and Dwight Gayle lead the attack once again.