OPINION
Newcastle United head coach Steve Bruce is expected to make just one change from the team that beat Bournemouth for Monday’s trip to Aston Villa.
The Magpies boss will take his team to his old stomping ground of Villa Park, hoping to make it three wins in a row. However, he will have to do so without captain Jamaal Lascelles.
The 26-year-old went down with an injury against the Cherries and is expected to be out until the New Year. He will likely be replaced by the returning Fabian Schar on Monday.
That will most probably be the only alteration Bruce makes, with his team performing very well at the moment. Will it be enough to make it three from three? That remains to be seen.
Martin Dubravka is the main man in between the sticks for the Magpies and it would be a huge shock if he was omitted against the Villans. The Slovakian will almost certainly start once again here.
Meanwhile, DeAndre Yedlin has reinstated himself as Newcastle’s number one right wing back and will likely keep his place, while the same goes for Jetro Willems on the opposite flank.
The one change is expected to come at centre back, where Schar will surely come in for the crocked Lascelles. Alongside him, though, Federico Fernandez and Ciaran Clark can expect to start.
Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden have performed very well over the past two games, and will most probably stay in at Villa Park. Out wide, Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron will likely start once again.
And up front, it seems to be Joelinton or bust at the moment. The Brazilian will surely keep his place on Monday.
