OPINION
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez is expected to drop club record signing Miguel Almiron for Friday’s trip to Leicester City.
The Paraguay international has suffered a downturn in form in recent weeks and it’s likely that Benitez hands him a watching brief at the King Power Stadium as a result.
Christian Atsu will surely be the man to replace him in the starting line up, with Benitez a known admirer of the Ghanian. Florian Lejeune and DeAndre Yedlin are also expected to drop out, with Paul Dummett and Javier Manquillo set to come into the defence.
Those will likely be the only three changes that the Spaniard makes from last Saturday’s disappointing defeat to Crystal Palace at St James’ Park.
Martin Dubravka came up against one the best penalty takers in the Premier League in Luka Milivojevic last time out, but he will almost certainly keep his place here despite his failure to keep the Serbian’s spot kick out.
As mentioned, Yedlin is expected to make way for Manquillo at right wing back after the American’s shocker against the Eagles. Meanwhile, Matt Ritchie will surely remain in place on the opposite side of the pitch.
Lejeune’s season is over after the injury he suffered last weekend, meaning that Dummett, as he did off the bench against Palace, will almost certainly take his place on Friday. Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles will likely join him at centre back.
In central midfield, Isaac Hayden and Ki Sung-yueng can expect to keep their places, with Mohamed Diame’s fitness uncertain and Jonjo Shelvey seemingly not a favourite of the manager’s.
Up top, Atsu, with his 59-caps for Ghana, will surely come in for the lacklustre Almiron, while Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez will almost certainly start at the King Power.
