Eddie Howe drops Newcastle United selection hint ahead of Chelsea clash

Eddie Howe is ready to rotate his winning Newcastle United starting XI for the trip to Chelsea.

The Magpies head to Stamford Bridge on a nine-game unbeaten streak after coming from behind to beat Southampton 2-1 on Thursday night.

And because the journey to West London is United’s second game in four days, Howe is set to utilise his 25-man playing squad to help cope with the physical demand.

‘Everyone in our squad is in contention to play’

“Everyone in our squad is in contention to play,” Howe confirmed after the win at St Mary’s Stadium. “We will let the dust settle from this game and see where we are physically.

“There are some very tired bodies in the changing room, a bit cramp in the squad.

“We are going to have to be physically good against Chelsea so we might have to rotate.

“We’ll see and take it on an individual basis.”

Which players could come into contention?

Howe will hope to have Joelinton back in the matchday squad after the Brazilian missed the last game with a groin tweak.

Allan Saint-Maximin is perhaps less likely to return having suffered from illness this week.

Jamaal Lascelles, Javier Manquillo, Miguel Almiron and Sean Longstaff are front of queue to come into the side.

Illness forced Lascelles, United’s captain, to drop out the line-up in mid-February. A central defensive partnership of Dan Burn and Fabian Schar have shipped just three goals in that time.

Emil Krafth stepped into Kieran Trippier’s shoes but hobbled off at Southampton, which could see Manquillo brought in at right-back.

Both Almiron and Longstaff were late substitutes during the win on the South Coast. Longstaff in particular is a player Howe has spoken glowingly about, despite his lack of minutes.