Triple blow leaves Eddie Howe with six options ahead of West Ham and Liverpool games
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Newcastle United’s nightmare week has left Eddie Howe with some massive decisions ahead of Monday’s trip to West Ham and next Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final.
As the clock ticks towards a tough test against Premier League leaders Liverpool at Wembley, the boss has seen his left side decimated ahead of a crucial period on league and cup.
Lewis Hall will miss the rest of the season due to an ankle injury that requires surgery, while Anthony Gordon’s red card was not contested as he begins a three-game ban.
The question now is, who fills in down our left side over the coming weeks and what happens at centre-back now Sven Botman looks set to miss the next eight weeks?
Who’ll replace Gordon?
Gordon’s absence raises questions about how Newcastle will line up at Wembley, both in terms of player selection and formation. If Eddie Howe sticks to his preferred 4-3-3 setup, he might choose Harvey Barnes as a direct replacement for Gordon.
The 27-year-old, limited to just two FA Cup starts in 2025 due to a thigh injury that sidelined him for six games, could step in. With five goals and one assist in the league this season, Barnes will view this as a chance to impress Howe and secure a regular first-team spot if selected.
Alternatively, Howe could deploy Joe Willock as a left-winger, pairing him with Joelinton on the left side of a midfield three, as he’s done before. Another option might see Joelinton shifted to the left of the attack, with Lewis Miley brought into the midfield to fill the gap if Joe Willock is not favoured as part of our midfield three.
A potential formation change and who replaces Hall?
Before we discuss who comes in at left-back, it’s worth noting that a complete formation change isn’t off the table, especially when a back five proved so successful in the semi-final second leg against Arsenal.
Howe might revert back to that. Emil Krafth could be drafted in to support Dan Burn and Fabian Schar, with Tino Livramento and Kieran Trippier wing-backs, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali in midfield and one of Joelinton, Barnes or Willock supporting Isak up top and Muprhy down the right?
But, should he stick with a flat back four an 4-3-3 formation, he has a couple of options at left-back.
Tino Livramento appears the most likely replacement with the 22-year-old capable of playing on both sides, seeing Kieran Trippier get an extended run in the starting XI following his recovery from a minor back issue picked up last Sunday.
Matt Targett is our only fit natural left back and may be needed if Trippier struggles to stay fit, which would see Tino remain at right back. The concern with Targett is that he has played so little football – just four first team appearances this season – so it feels unlikely to throw him in against Mo Salah next Sunday.
So, what’s it to be? Barnes, Joelinton or Willock down the left? Tino at left-back? A formation change that brings Krafth back into the side to support the struggling Schar and Burn? Let us know what you’d do as we approach the biggest week in our season yet.
