OPINION
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez is expected to recall rapid winger Christian Atsu for his team’s clash with Burnley on Tuesday night.
Club record signing Miguel Almiron shined on his full debut for the club against Huddersfield Town on Saturday, but Benitez might perceive two games in just a few days to be too much for him just yet.
Instead, the Paraguay international should be handed a super-sub role against the Clarets, with Atsu the obvious candidate to replace him on the wing.
That will likely be the only change that the Magpies boss makes having watched his side ease to victory over the beleaguered Terriers last time out.
Martin Dubravka enjoyed a quiet afternoon on Saturday, and he will have been very grateful for it too after a couple of high profile mistakes recently. He is almost certain to keep his place here.
DeAndre Yedlin was another player who returned to form against Huddersfield and he will surely start once again as a result. Matt Ritchie has been a revelation at left wing back and can expect to play from the start as well.
Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles and Florian Lejeune are all firmly entrenched in Benitez’s plans. All three players will likely take the field on Tuesday.
Isaac Hayden and Sean Longstaff have turned their Newcastle careers around recently and are now nigh on undroppable for Benitez. Both men are expected to start against Sean Dyche’s team.
As mentioned, Atsu is likely to replace Almiron, while Ayoze Perez will almost definitely start on the opposite side of the pitch having found the back of the net on Saturday.
Salomon Rondon also scored against the Terriers, and he will surely keep his place at the head of the Newcastle attack.
