Newcastle United make Yoane Wissa call v Leeds United - two changes & injury boost confirmed
Newcastle United v Leeds United team news: Yoane Wissa and Jacob Murphy drop out for The Magpies as Eddie Howe makes two changes.
Newcastle United host Leeds United at St James’ Park tonight (8:15pm kick-off) as they eye a third straight Premier League win.
The Magpies head into the game on the back of a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace last time out at home. A win tonight could take Newcastle as high as fifth in the table should other results go their way.
That would require Sunderland to draw at Brentford, Manchester United to fail to beat Burnley and Chelsea to lose to Fulham.
Eddie Howe’s side have no fresh injury concerns for the match, though they were sweating on the fitness of Jacob Murphy after he was withdrawn with a hamstring issue against Palace.
Newcastle United injury news
Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier and Tino Livramento returned to the bench on Sunday with Livramento getting on the pitch as a substitute. Dan Burn, Anthony Elanga, William Osula and Emil Krafth remain out.
Speaking ahead of the Leeds match, Howe provided an update on Murphy’s fitness.
“Yeah, he's had a scan,” he said. “There's good news on the scan, no major injury there, so I think it was probably fatigue.
“His physical numbers in the game were outstanding, so yeah, I think he'll be available at the moment. I think it'll be a late decision for us, but fingers crossed.”
Murphy remained part of the matchday squad but dropped to the bench as one of two changes made by Howe.
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Newcastle United confirmed XI v Leeds United
Harvey Barnes comes into the side on the right wing after making an impact off the bench against Palace on Sunday.
Nick Woltemade also returns to the starting line-up in place of Yoane Wissa.
When asked about Barnes starting on the right-wing and Anthony Gordon on the left in his pre-match press conference, Howe said: “I don't think Anthony enjoys the right, playing on the right. So I think Harvey's a lot more open to it and quite enjoys, I think, the freedom that that position gives him with our way of playing. So that would be why that's the case.
“That doesn't mean I can't play Anthony out there, but if a player doesn't really want to play in that position, I think it's a difficult one to force a player to do it because I don't think you'll get the same kind of performances. But Harvey's a player that's played across the midfield.
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“He's very good in the lines and between spaces. So quite happy to play Harvey there. I think he's done really well there this year. Of course, probably his number one position is the left and I know sort of where he would ideally like to play.
“But I think he's a goal threat off both sides and the stats would back that up. He's been really good off both flanks this year. He's just a very good all-round player, Harvey, and he did really well and turned the game for us on Sunday.”
NUFC XI v Leeds: Pope; Miley, Schar, Thiaw, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Barnes, Gordon, Woltemade