Lineup reaction: Key players return for Newcastle vs. Chelsea

With some crucial returnees in the lineup, Newcastle United will be a tough side to deal with at St. James’ Park today.

Newcastle United blew out Rochdale in their FA Cup third round replay earlier this week. They get some more good news today as some key players return from injury to make the squad vs. Chelsea. We take a look at Steve Bruce’s selections.

Starting XI

Dubravka/Krafth/Clark/Lascelles(c)/Fernandez/Willems/Shelvey/Hayden/Almiron/Joelinton/Saint-Maximin.

Substitutes

Atsu/Darlow/Lejeune/M. Longstaff/S. Longstaff/Ritchie/Schar

Reaction

This lineup today is pretty close to a full-strength one for Steve Bruce and it feels like it’s been an eternity since we could say that. Martin Dubravka will have Ciaran Clark, Federico Fernandez, and captain Jamaal Lascelles directly in front of him, with Fabian Schar available off the bench. Emil Krafth holds down the right wing-back position in place of Javier Manquillo and DeAndre Yedlin, with neither in the matchday 18 today. Jetro Willems will look to get forward and combine with a special someone on the wing…Allan Saint-Maximin.

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The electrifying Frenchman is back after a hamstring injury kept him out through the congested holiday season. He was quality against Chelsea the first time around and he will look to make a mark in his return. Also back in the squad, Jonjo Shelvey will pull the strings in the midfield following an injury of his own. Isaac Hayden slots in next to him while the in-form Miguel Almiron lines up opposite ASM. Up top, Joelinton will try to make it two goals in a week after he broke through vs. Rochdale.

If the Magpies are needing some quality service later on in this match, Sean Longstaff and Matt Ritchie are both available off the bench. Ritchie is the only option to play outside back if there’s any change that needs to be made there, but Schar and Florian Lejeune will serve as depth in central defense. Christian Atsu and Matty Longstaff can provide energy going forward and Karl Darlow is on the bench after getting a win in goal vs. Rochdale.

With the squad he’s selected, Steve Bruce should expect his side to do more than sit deep defensively and rely solely on the counter-attack. There needs to be some aggression today from the Magpies at home with a strong squad.