Newcastle manager Alan Shearer will be without left back Jose Enrique for Saturday’s crucial Premier League clash with Fulham, and no doubt will again ask the very capable Damien Duff, who is willing to play anywhere for the side, to fill in again at left back.
Alan Smith – only 50-50 for tomorrow’s game
Alan Smith is still only 50-50 with his thigh injury, but if he is fit, we expect him to be used on the bench for the important game tomorrow afternoon with Fulham.
Damien Duff has shown himself to be a good left-back, where he played several times for Chelsea, and certainly he’s played his socks for the team this year. It’s good to see Duff continuing to do a good job – out of position – for the Newcastle side. The Irishman will stay at Newcastle next season, whatever happens in our last two games.
But Enrique has again been ruled out with the hamstring injury which has kept him out of the last two games.
And Obafemi Martins did not train yesterday (good), as he goes very careful with his dodgy groin, which will be fixed in the summer, but Oba can come on as an impact substitute again tomorrow, and at Aston Villa if we can keep him fit enough.
We don’t think Alan will make many changes to the side that played on Monday night – the only change we see Alan possibly making is to start Lovenkrands on the left wing in place of Gutierrez. But substitutes Martins (still slightly injured), Gutierrez (if he doesn’t start) and Carroll will again likely be used.
This is the team we expect tomorrow:
Harper
Beye S.Taylor Bassong Duff
Guthrie Butt Nolan Lovenkrands
Owen (c) Viduka
Subs: Krul Coloccini Smith Carroll R.Taylor Martins Gutierrez
That’s a good side with some good substitutes on the bench, and we need the win tomorrow afternoon – let’s go for it lads – all out!!
It’s even possible we could be safe from relegation by tomorrow night, but only if we can win (job one), and then hope Hull City lose at Bolton Wanderers.
Comments welcome.
13 comments so far
Ericles
May 15, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Comment #1Pity about Enrique but we should go with the same side as plonked the Boro anyway. Our last home game – let’s go with a bang and sink Fulham too. A good score and we are probably safe.
Toon Graeme
May 15, 2009 at 12:42 PM
Comment #2BBC press conf link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/8051628.stm
Toon Graeme
May 15, 2009 at 12:43 PM
Comment #3Sorry lads – should haev watched it first – nowt special at all.
Geordie-Gerrard7
May 15, 2009 at 12:44 PM
Comment #4ed, jonas will start on the left due to his defensive due to his tracking back ability to help duff
Craigg
May 15, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Comment #5I wouldnt change anything, The starting line up worked and in Oba, Lovenkrands and Carroll we have three terrific impact subs.
————————Harper———————
—Beye—S Taylor———Bassong—-Duff—–
–Guthrie—–Nolan——Butt——–Gutierrez—
——————Owen—-Viduka——————–
Subs: Krul, Coloccini, R Taylor, Geremi, Lovenkrands, Carroll, Martins
2-0 Owen and Viduka
Its over tomorrow for us anyway, We will win and Bolton will beat Hull for us
A Portsmouth win on monday to keep you who who sweating right until the last day…
BT9MAG
May 15, 2009 at 12:51 PM
Comment #6love to see jonas AND mcloven start…wont happen though
tdt
May 15, 2009 at 1:28 PM
Comment #7I agree with the line-up, in the sense that i believe that is what he will start with. However, i think jonas should start on the left as he did against boro, help the defence, once there tired, bring on the pacey lads, ie loven n oba.
tdt
May 15, 2009 at 1:30 PM
Comment #8I’m never sure about butt either, i think gutherie would do a better job in the centre, and that opens right midfield up 4 the likes of lualua… maybe as a sub. Lualua was in the news this week staking his claim, if we’re playing well in the fulham game i think he might get sum pitch time under his belt, hopefully atleast.
Macas35
May 15, 2009 at 1:31 PM
Comment #9I just hope Gutierrez had a better game tomorrow, and somebody tells him to get the ball into the box instead of fannying on.
Macas35
May 15, 2009 at 1:31 PM
Comment #10has*
Toon Graeme
May 15, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Comment #11I really do hope Jonas slices one in the net for we. Cant see it happen – but you can hope.
NicoGF
May 15, 2009 at 7:25 PM
Comment #12God… these people still believe they performed like worldbeaters against Boro. It was Boro FFs!
Rodzilla
May 15, 2009 at 8:46 PM
Comment #13NicoGF, in case you hadn’t noticed – we won 3-1, and WE SCORED THEIR GOAL FOR THEM!
3-1 is a credible result against any team, benny.