Newcastle United travel to Craven Cottage this weekend as they face Fulham in a game where three points feels imperative before the international break begins.
After the Everton game midweek, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jaissle change things up, but his comments in the wake of that defeat also suggest we could be in line to see the same side trusted again.
Either way, the Magpies are in a difficult position right now and this could well be the most important team selection of the German’s tenure so far.
GK: Lukas Hornicek
Hornicek might have made a mistake against Everton, but some of the calls on social media suggesting he should be dropped for Pope is mental.
We’d be much worse off without Hornicek between the sticks and he will certainly continue as the undisputed starter against Fulham.
RB: Amar Dedic
Dedic’s performances have dropped off a bit in the last couple of weeks but with Livramento still injured and Miley likely to go back into the midfield pot upon his return, the Bosnian’s spot should be safe.
CB: Dan Burn
Burn came out with some interesting comments after the Everton game that ruffled a few feathers within the fanbase, but it does feel as though his experience will be needed in a very important away game on Saturday.
Him and Schar probably haven’t quite had the impact they would have hoped since they replaced Thiaw and Botman, but I can’t see Jaissle switching up his centre-backs again during such a volatile period.
CB: Fabian Schar
While I’m not too sure Schar’s tendency to play long-ball is really helping Newcastle perform what Jaissle is asking for, and I’d be tempted to bring Thiaw back into the side, I do think Schar will continue here.
There was that strange moment with the instructions midweek, but Fab does still have that aforementioned experience and he hasn’t been that bad in the grand scheme of things.
LB: Lewis Hall
Hall was really poor against Everton, but suggesting anything other than him starting again would be silly.
Partly because we don’t actually have another left-back, but also because he has still been one of our better performers throughout the season and will be integral if Jaissle’s men are to turn the current situation around.
CM: Nico Gonzalez
Nico didn’t have his best game against Everton either, but that was largely down to what has happening around him than anything he did inherently wrong.
The Spaniard does need to find a way to get on the ball more and affect the game, but it’s difficult to blame him for the current shortcomings and he will probably start again here.
CM: Joe Willock
Joelinton is now almost certain to miss out and, as much as I’d love Steur to come in and replace the Brazilian, I just can’t see Jaissle foregoing his opinion that him and Gonzalez can’t play together yet.
For that reason the most plausible option to me seems that Jaissle drops Willock deeper, as he seems to mirror the sort of profile that the German wants as the second of that midfield two.
RW: Anthony Elanga
Despite being lively, Elanga was decidedly poor against Everton (are you noticing a pattern yet?), but starting Jacob Murphy instead would probably constitute some sort of crime and his pace could be useful away from home.
CAM: Matias Fernandez-Pardo
Jaissle has just confirmed Fernandez-Pardo will return in his press conference and, with Ramsey suspended and my feeling that Willock will be dropped deeper, it might make sense to put the Belgian straight back in if he’s ready.
Pardo has the technical ability to play in between the lines, but would also offer the ability to press high on the front foot - that could be a preferable combination for Jaissle ahead of this one.
LW: Harvey Barnes
While I completely agree with the clamour to give Toure more minutes, dropping Barnes doesn’t feel like something Jaissle should or will do.
Barnes was one of the Magpies’ most creative threats against Everton and did look lively, although I think there could be something in putting him in the 10 instead of out wide.
That isn’t something I can imagine Jaissle ever doing though and Barnes’ goal scoring threat alone makes him a must-start in a must-win.
ST: Will Osula
Osula struggled to impact against Everton, largely down to receiving no actual service beyond fruitless long balls that were dealt with all evening by Tarkowski and O’Brien.
Event still, the Dane is by far the Magpies’ most potent goal scoring threat when on the pitch and it’s difficult to see where goals will come without him.
He simply has to start against Fulham.
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