The lineup that can keep pushing Newcastle up the table this season

Newcastle United were able to add Joe Willock on loan from Arsenal on the transfer deadline day. With his arrival, the squad will be set as the Magpies try to string some results together and avoid relegation. The 11 players below make up the best lineup that Steve Bruce can select when everyone’s healthy in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Karl Darlow has been much more than serviceable this season in place of Martin Dubravka. But, Dubravka is the more proven player in goal and should be the pick in the best XI.

Now that DeAndre Yedlin has moved on to Galatasaray, Javier Manquillo is the clear-cut starter at right-back with Jacob Murphy and Emil Krafth there to back him up. Opposite him, Jamal Lewis is starting to show improvement and is the left-back of the present and future.

Center-back is a tough call because there have been so many injuries and absences in that group. Federico Fernandez has been the best player there this season, so he should fill one of those spots. Next to him, Jamaal Lascelles makes the most sense because of his leadership, but you could make a solid case for Fabian Schar or even Isaac Hayden.

In the midfield, Jonjo Shelvey is the most skillful and should be the starter next to the newcomer Willock. The pairing would allow for Shelvey to be the distributor and the tempo setter while the Arsenal loanee can be aggressive, winning the ball on defense and pushing the action forward with the ball at his feet.

A tandem that some expect could save the Magpies, Allan Saint-Maximin and Ryan Fraser are the best options on the wings. Miguel Almiron is best when he’s playing as a number 10 and would slot in between those two on the flanks. Up top, obviously, Callum Wilson is the target man and leading goalscorer this season.

That lineup and formation will give Newcastle United the best chance to be an attacking side that’s also sound defensively.