Eddie Howe is poised to make changes to his Newcastle United lineup for Tuesday’s Champions League match against AC Milan.
The Newcastle manager experimented with his starting lineup against Brentford on Saturday, and it paid handsomely. The guys he brought in made a significant difference, with Callum Wilson scoring the game-winning goal.
Howe’s team was able to regain its winning ways, and they will travel to Milan with confidence as they begin their Champions League campaign.
The game against AC Milan at the San Siro will be exceedingly difficult, and here is the Newcastle lineup we expect Howe to select.
Kieran Trippier leads Newcastle United in the Champions League.
Newcastle are competing in the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, and Kieran Trippier will lead them out at the San Siro.
As Howe makes no changes to his defense, he will captain the Magpies in Milan.
Newcastle kept a clean sheet on Saturday and will be hoping to do so again on Tuesday. Sven Botman’s return made a significant difference in their defensive performance against Brentford.
Sandro Tonali starts for Newcastle against his old club
Sandro Tonali was only fit enough for the bench on Saturday, but he is expected to start against his former club.
The 23-year-old joined Newcastle from AC Milan this summer, and the Italian is already heading back. He will return to the midfield alongside Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff.
That means Elliot Anderson will drop to the bench, despite a solid performance at the weekend.
Elsewhere, Joelinton will miss the game due to injury. Joe Willock is also ruled out.
Eddie Howe changes his forward line vs AC Milan
Another change Howe is expected to make sees Alexander Isak return to the starting lineup. He did not play a single minute of the 1-0 win over Brentford.
However, because the Swede is scheduled to start at the San Siro, Callum Wilson will be left out. Given how brilliantly he performed on Saturday evening, it seems cruel.
Miguel Almiron is also expected to return. He is expected to take the place of summer signing Harvey Barnes, allowing Anthony Gordon to start on the left flank.
While Barnes performed admirably on Saturday, Howe will almost certainly prefer to start Almiron at the San Siro because to his defensive contributions and tactical acumen.
Predicted XI vs AC Milan: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Bruno, Tonali; Almiron, Isak, Gordon.