£16.5m signing left out: Newcastle United predicted XI versus Leicester City - gallery
Newcastle United’s predicted starting XI to take on Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
Newcastle United begin the busy festive period with a Premier League away trip to Leicester City.
Eddie Howe’s side marked their return from the five-and-a-half-week World Cup break with a 1-0 victory over Bournemouth on Tuesday to book their place in the last eight of the Carabao Cup.
Now, the Magpies are back in league action, with Leicester the opponents on Boxing Day. Prior to the break, United and the Foxes were among the division’s in-form teams, which makes for an intriguing encounter at the King Power Stadium.
“I think they’re a top team with a top manager,” Howe said during Friday’s pre-match press conference. “That never changed, in my opinion, even though they had a difficult start to the season.
“The quality of Brendan’s work I think always shines through in his teams, and if you look at their players, not a dramatic amount has changed from the team that excelled in previous years.
“We respect them immensely, I think they’re a very good football team, and I think now the confidence has returned. They’re a very dangerous opponent for us.”
Bar Alexander Isak (thigh), Paul Dummett (back), Emil Krafth (ACL) and possibly Elliot Anderson, Howe has a full squad to choose from. So, which players will feature in Howe’s starting line-up? NewcastleWorld predicts:
1. GK: Nick Pope
Pope kept his fifth successive St James’ Park clean sheet against Bournemouth. Replicating that at Leicester will see the goalkeeper claim his 10th of the campaign.
2. RB: Kieran Trippier
We presume Trippier will be tested more defensively against Leicester than he was on Tuesday night v Bournemouth. United will also need his creativity in the final third.
3. CB: Fabian Schar
Schar’s partnership with Sven Botman at the centre of defence is growing as each game passes. Bournemouth on Tuesday was just another example of that.
4. CB: Sven Botman
Botman is already proving to be one of the best defenders in the Premier League. He faced a big aerial test against Kieffer Moore on Tuesday but rose to the challenge.