The day is finally here. Newcastle United, following a 20-year absence, return to Champions League action when they take on Italian giants AC Milan at the San Siro this evening (kick-off 5:45pm).
Heading to Italy on the back of beating Brentford 1-0 on Saturday evening, Magpies’ head coach Eddie Howe has a few selection dilemmas. For example, Callum Wilson started and scored at the weekend but waiting in the wings is Alexander Isak.
Previewing the game, Howe said: “We want to do as well as we can. There is no secret, no surprise in my answer. We want to be very competitive first and foremost. We want to give a really good account of ourselves and impose our style of play on the competition, and with that then we hope we get the results that follow.
“The competitive nature of our game has to be there, which it was against Brentford. We went back to basics again and we need to do that again tomorrow night.
Here’s how Newcastle United are expected to line-up:
1. GK: Nick Pope
Kept his first clean sheet of the campaign against Brentford last time out.
2. RB: Kieran Trippier
Returns to the Champions League stage having featured for Tottenham & Atletico Madrid.
3. CB: Fabian Schar
The Swiss international has started every game for Newcastle this term.
4. CB: Sven Botman
Impressed on his return to the starting XI on Saturday after a week out with an ankle issue.