Newcastle XI proposal vs. Spurs: Outcast starts behind main trio

Newcastle United desperately need a win to distance themselves from 18th-placed Fulham. The Magpies need to write their own destiny rather than rely on Fulham’s misfortunes, but Tottenham will not make that an easy task.

Jose Mourinho’s men have been all over the place this season. It is unclear which team will show up at St. James’ Park, but one thing is for certain: Spurs are capable of dominating any game and scoring three or four goals with ease.

Newcastle United put in their worst shift of the season when they suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat to Brighton in what was a must-win game. The Toon sat back and let Brighton do their thing, and that lack of effort from some players should see a few lineup changes for Sunday’s clash.

The good news is that Newcastle United are expected to have Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin back, but their productivity is dependent on those behind them. That being said, in order to appropriately take the game to Tottenham the following lineup needs to be deployed.

Newcastle United need players who are full of energy in midfield to upset Tottenham.

Tottenham are only one win away from a Champions League spot, and they will be looking at this game to go all out and attack. Knowing that, Newcastle United should go with a 4-2-3-1 shape in order to have a balanced formation to support players on both ends of the pitch.

Karl Darlow could come back into the lineup, but recent reports claiming he wants to leave after being dropped should see Martin Dubravka stay put between the sticks. Newcastle United need his experience to show now more than ever.

The back line should see two changes. Paul Dummett needs to be replaced by Matt Ritchie, who has proven he can be a reliable two-way player, and Ciaran Clark needs to make way for Federico Fernandez. Captain Jamaal Lascelles is always at his best when Fernandez plays alongside him, and the Magpies need to keep errors at a minimum in the back.

When looking at all the central midfielders in the squad, Jonjo Shelvey is a must-start. Yes, he has been inconsistent this season, but no other player in that role is capable of influencing the outcome in a game the way he can on a good day. The key question is who should play with him now that Isaac Hayden is out?

Bruce will probably go with Jeff Hendrick because he has no logic in his selections, but he should be going with Matty Longstaff. The youngster is the most energetic midfielder in the squad and he tries to get involved in every attacking possession. That is the type of player the Magpies need on the pitch to close out this season.

The attacking quartet in the final third is obvious and do not need further explanation. Any setup that does not include Allan Saint-Maximin, Miguel Almiron, Joe Willock, and Callum Wilson is absolutely crazy. Ryan Fraser did score for Scotland a few days ago, but Willock’s consistency should be rewarded.