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:
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.
5. LB: Dan Burn
Burn has made the left-back spot his own this season by keeping summer signing Matt Targett out of the starting XI.
6. CM: Bruno Guimaraes
Although Guimaraes wasn’t at his world-class best against Bournemouth, he was always involved. Such a crucial player for United.
7. CM: Sean Longstaff
Longstaff was another who looked a little off colour against Bournemouth, though playing 90 minutes two days previous might have had something to do with that. Incredible workrate.
8. CM: Joe Willock
Willock scored in back-to-back Premier League games before the break. Has combined well with Joelinton down the left hand side.