Newcastle United have Anthony Gordon back available for tonight’s Champions League opener against Barcelona - but will he feature in the starting XI?
The 24-year-old winger has missed the Magpies’ last two matches versus Leeds United and Wolverhampton Wanderers, and won’t feature at AFC Bournemouth on Sunday.
Gordon was handed a three-match ban for a red card challenge on Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk but that doesn’t carry over to the Champions League, making him eligible tonight.
Asked about Gordon at his pre-match press conference, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe said: “Yeah, he's good. Of course he's in my thoughts, he's an outstanding player, you can’t have enough of those, so we'll look to utilise him.
“Whether we think that's from the start of the game, let's wait and see. But I think he brings a pace to our forward line, a directness that you always need.
“I think it's an important season for him and his career, and we're looking forward to helping him reach his very highest levels.”
If Gordon gets the nod from the start, Howe has two options - start him in his preferred left wing position or again deploy him as a striker.
Newcastle have club-record signing Nick Woltemade fit and available to lead the line after he scored on his debut against Wolves at the weekend. But the German is still early into his Tyneside career, and Howe will want to manage him carefully.
So, without further ado, here’s how we expect Newcastle United to line up against Barcelona tonight.
5. CB: Dan Burn
The Blyth-born defender has been one of Newcastle’s most consistent performers for a good while now. | Getty Images
6. LB: Tino Livramento
Livramento has performed superbly at left-back but it won’t be long until he needs to translate that form over to the right. | Getty Images
7. CM: Sandro Tonali
The Italian has established himself as one of the best No.6s in the Premier League, if not Europe. | Getty Images
8. CM: Bruno Guimaraes
Newcastle’s skipper lives for games of this magnitude. | Getty Images