On for Joelinton 61: Continues to look at home in the Newcastle midfield this pre-season. His confidence on the ball and energy he brings to the middle of the park has given Eddie Howe food for thought. 
On for Joelinton 61: Continues to look at home in the Newcastle midfield this pre-season. His confidence on the ball and energy he brings to the middle of the park has given Eddie Howe food for thought.
On for Joelinton 61: Continues to look at home in the Newcastle midfield this pre-season. His confidence on the ball and energy he brings to the middle of the park has given Eddie Howe food for thought.

Confirmed Newcastle United line up v Mainz 05 – three absentees explained as Sven Botman starts

Newcastle United take on Mainz 05 at the Kufstein Arena in Austria this afternoon (3pm kick-off) - but how will Eddie Howe’s side line-up against the Bundesliga outfit?

After cruising to a comfortable 3-0 victory against 1860 Munich in Saalfelden on Friday, Newcastle are preparing to face stronger opposition in the form of Mainz, who finished 8th in the German top flight last term.

In the previous match, Eddie Howe named a starting line-up that changed entirely in the second half. Sven Botman was introduced for Jamaal Lascelles at half-time and the rest of the side changed on the hour mark.

Federico Fernandez (calf), Kell Watts (knee) Jamal Lewis (calf) and Matt Ritchie (tightness) sat the 1860 Munich game out but Ritchie has returned this afternoon. Matty Longstaff and Jay Turner-Cooke were named on the bench but didn’t get on the pitch.

Once again Howe is expected to give plenty of players a decent run-out this afternoon as they prepare for the upcoming Premier League season on August 6.

NUFC XI to face Mainz 05: Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Dummett; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Fraser, Wood