Newcastle United’s predicted starting XI to face Rayo Vallecano. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)Newcastle United’s predicted starting XI to face Rayo Vallecano. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Newcastle United’s predicted starting XI to face Rayo Vallecano. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)

Newcastle United predicted starting XI v Rayo Vallecano gallery - Joelinton and Sven Botman out?

Newcastle United’s predicted starting XI to face Rayo Vallecano at St James’ Park.

Newcastle United round off their preparations for the 2021-22 season restart with a home friendly against La Liga side Rayo Vallecano this afternoon (kick-off 12:30pm GMT).

Following a fortnight or so off, Eddie Howe’s squad, excluding those at the Qatar World Cup, were back in training after making the mid-season trip to Saudi Arabia.

Howe’s side spent a week in Riyadh and trained at Al-Hilal training centre before ending their visit with a 5-0 win over the Saudi Pro League champions.

United now play on home soil for the first time in five weeks. Vallecano are the visitors to St James’ Park before the competitive season resumes in the last 16 of the Carabao Cup against Bournemouth on Tuesday night.

Yes, this may indeed be total guesswork, but I promise I have tried to apply some theory behind Howe’s predicted starting XI with Bournemouth to consider in just three days’ time.