Newcastle United has been off to a brilliant start this season, and the club's recent comeback victory against Wolves has given the fans the hope of a successful season ahead. Going a goal behind in the first half and then returning into the fixture with two screamers within 5 minutes, the 2-1 win has been a testament to the club's mentality.
Will Eddie Howe be able to make crucial changes in the fixture against Fulham?
Going forward, the first and foremost challenge for Eddie Howe's side would be to face Fulham, where a potential win could take the club to the tabletop. However, while the past fixtures between the two ascertain Newcastle as the favorites, it is going to be a hard time for Howe to arrange his lineup. Not to forget, the substitutes, arriving early in the 2nd half, had changed the game's momentum, ultimately leading them to a win.
Among the stars of the night for the Magpies club, Harvey Barnes, who scored the 80th-minute golazo, Sandro Tonali, who had been brilliant, and Joe Willock, who changed the club's midfield gears, all came from the bench to help the club get the three points. And thus, with the three of them being the consistent performers for Howe's side, the manager won't want to have them just as a substitute.
However, the issue isn't as obvious as it seems, given the Tyneside club has significant names in these areas as well. In the midfield, Howe had started with Captain Bruno Guimaraes, powerhouse Joelinton, and an inform Longstaff, which didn't work well. On top of that, with Joe Willock and Tonali delivering masterclasses one after the other, it is certainly going to be difficult for Howe to arrange his midfield.
In fact, the issue aggravates in the club's attack force, and bringing Barnes directly into the lineup would need some brave decisions. Against Wolves, Anthony Gordon had to be pushed to the front, who looked quite miserable there, while Barnes yet again shone for the club. Thus, even though both Barnes and Gordon enjoy their conventional left-wing roles, Howe might need to move one of them to the right.
Clearly, the upcoming fixture would take enough preparation on Eddie Howe's part to pick out a balanced squad, making the necessary changes without pushing many players out of positions. Even though Newcastle enters the fixture being the favorites, it would be much more interesting to see how they line up against Fulham.