The Newcastle United starting XI I'd pick vs Southampton - and it's a tad controversial

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The opening day of the 2024-25 Premier League season is almost here. Excited yet?

Newcastle United host Southampton at St James’ Park on Saturday (kick-off 3pm), and Eddie Howe has some interesting calls to make in regards to his starting XI....

Nick Pope starts - but what about the bench?

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With the exception of the second-half against Yokohama F.Marinos, where the Magpies struggled at a hot and humid Japan National Stadium, Nick Pope has consistently shown why he was missed so much last season.

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Perhaps some still fear Pope dislocating his shoulder again - an injury that kept him out for five months - but the signs in pre-season were promising. He looked robust and pulled off a number of top class saves.

Need I say more? The 10-capped England international is the Newcastle’s No.1 and no one in the current goalkeeping pack comes close.

What is arguably more intriguing is who Howe names as back-up on the bench. Both Martin Dubravka and Odysseas Vlachodimos played a half each against Stade Brestois on Saturday.

To be honest, it’s a surprise Dubravka is still here with the Slovakian the obvious choice to leave amid Pope’s No.1 status, Vlachodimos and John Ruddy arriving, and Mark Gillespie recently being handed a one-year contract extension.

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No Dubravka in the matchday squad will undoubtedly push him closer towards the exit door.

Kieran Trippier > Tino Livramento... hear me out!

OK, so I think this a tad controversial! I reckon Howe will start Tino Livramento at right-back, and deservedly so, but I’m still very much team Kieran Trippier.

In my opinion, lots of you out there, because of the December mistakes, three-month calf injury and speculation regarding his future have seemingly forgotten how good Trippier really is.

It goes without saying that the England right-back has been a transformative signing for the club, and he has been absolutely pivotal to the way Howe’s side open up the opposition. For all the noise and worry that the 33-year-old may be getting past his best, he chipped in with 10 Premier League assists last term, the joint-third highest in the division.

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Look, it is probably true that Trippier has showed signs of ‘slowing down’ ahead of turning 34 in September but for the majority has remained a key and dependable performer.

Livramento is absolutely the future and very different to Trippier with his pace and athleticism his biggest traits. But one thing Trippier has the upper hand on currently is he conviction in the final third.

For as long as Trippier is on Tyneside, and it might not be for much longer, the Euro 2024 finalist shouldn’t all of a sudden be forgotten about.

Centre-back pairing

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For the Sela weekender, Howe partnered Emil Krafth & Dan Burn against Girona and Fabian Schar & Lloyd Kelly versus Stade Brestois.

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Is that a hint that Howe will pick one pairing or the other? I don’t think so. Schar and Burn - my pick - have played together countless of times and don’t need any introduction.

Schar may be a little behind on fitness after his extended break for competing at Euro 2024 but has proven since the moment Howe walked through the door that he can always be depended on.

Kelly, on the other hand, who too is part of the group building up to full fitness, doesn’t yet have that trust that Schar and Burn have built under Howe, understandably so having not long arrived from AFC Bournemouth.

The former England under-21s international’s time will come but Burn, and Lewis Hall at left-back, have earned their places after a strong end to last season.

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The midfielder three

Newcastle United's midfielder Sean Longstaff (C) strikes the ball during an international club friendly football match between Newcastle United and Yokohama F. Marinos at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo on August 3, 2024. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP) (Photo by YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images)Newcastle United's midfielder Sean Longstaff (C) strikes the ball during an international club friendly football match between Newcastle United and Yokohama F. Marinos at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo on August 3, 2024. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP) (Photo by YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Newcastle United's midfielder Sean Longstaff (C) strikes the ball during an international club friendly football match between Newcastle United and Yokohama F. Marinos at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo on August 3, 2024. (Photo by Yuichi YAMAZAKI / AFP) (Photo by YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sean Longstaff - it picks itself, doesn’t it?

There is of course Joe Willock, who encouragingly got through 89 minutes last weekend, but having battled an Achilles injury for almost 12 months, Newcastle have vowed to manage his game time, and that is likely to rule out a start versus Southampton.

And for what it’s worth, I think Longstaff deserves his place. After playing through an injury for the majority of last season, the midfielder looked back to his physical best with a brace against Girona.

Unleash Anthony Gordon

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Harvey Barnes or Anthony Gordon? Admittedly, it’s a nice headache for Howe to have, but it’s an easy answer for me.

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Remind me who Newcastle’s player of the year is again... Yes, Gordon’s only preparation for the new season was that 45 minutes against Girona last Friday but he looked lively and eager to impress, as his goal highlighted.

In the words of Howe: “I’m confident he’ll be ready for next week.” And that’s good enough for me.

Barnes, meanwhile, will have benefitted from a full pre-season but had left his shooting boots at home until his trademark strike against Stade Brestois.

I still think at this stage Barnes is best used as an impact substitute. He is, in my opinion, yet to really show he can have a similar impact as a starter.

MY NEWCASTLE UNITED STARTING XI: Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, Lewis Hall, Bruno Guimaraes, Sean Longstaff, Joelinton, Jacob Murphy, Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak.

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