Rafa Benitez has just announced the team for the last friendly of pre-season at St. James’ Park this afternoon against SBV Vitesse from Arnhem, Holland and Mbemba is not in the squad.
Chancel has picked up a slight ankle injury in training and is not playing today but should be ready for Fulham next Friday.
Grant Hnley starts the game at center-back and it will be a tough test for Grant who is not match fit.
Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Matz Sels; Daryl Janmaat, Grant Hanley, Jamaal Lascelles (c), Paul Dummett; Isaac Hayden, Jack Colback; Vurnon Anita, Ayoze Perez, Matt Ritchie; Dwight Gayle
Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Jamie Sterry, Jesus Gamez, Cheick Tiote, Jonjo Shelvey, Henri Saivet, Florian Thauvin, Yoan Gouffran, Rolando Aarons, Adam Armstrong, Aleksandar Mitrovic
Sels is in goal and the two holding midfielders are Isaac Hayden and Jack Colback and surprisingly Vurnon Anita starts on the right wing.
Perez is in the number 10 role again and the other winger is Matt Ritchie, so the good news is he must be fully fit again.
The bench is very strong and Florian Thauvin is included – which is interesting given that a deal is trying to be negotiated for him to move to Lazio – hopefully by the end of this weekend.
It will be good to see how the lads perform today and especially Grant Hanley at center-back.
Comments welcome.
16 comments so far
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 30, 2016 at 2:07 PM
Comment #1Hayden and dummet both cover cb. Interesting to see anita at RAM again. Wonder if Rafa liked what he saw
Shadow_Shearer
Jul 30, 2016 at 2:08 PM
Comment #2What time is kick off anybody????
I thought it was 7.45
jazzyp
Jul 30, 2016 at 2:09 PM
Comment #3Thauvin on the subs bench. Wonder if this is a ploy like it was with Gini
YouCouldn'tMakeItUp
Jul 30, 2016 at 2:09 PM
Comment #43:00pm isnt it? I’ll be at the Sevens at the falcons so i will struggle to keep up with the score
AndyMac
Jul 30, 2016 at 2:09 PM
Comment #5Aarons on the bench ?
SUTTY1978
Jul 30, 2016 at 2:11 PM
Comment #6The team seems to be getting worse the closer we get to the season starting! No aarons? Two defensive midfielders and another on the right wing? Best CB injured. Hope this isn’t the starting XI for the Fulham game
gingavitus
Jul 30, 2016 at 2:17 PM
Comment #7any streams for today game?
Rafa Revolution
Jul 30, 2016 at 2:18 PM
Comment #8Any links for today’s game?
Jail for Ashley
Jul 30, 2016 at 2:20 PM
Comment #9SUTTY,
You seem like a glass half empty type!
tomellifred360
Jul 30, 2016 at 2:20 PM
Comment #10Creating a Fantasy Football League if anyone is interested.
76984-188980
Essex Geordie Bill
Jul 30, 2016 at 2:21 PM
Comment #11Disappointing that Shelvey’s not starting.
Goromagpie
Jul 30, 2016 at 2:25 PM
Comment #12No aarons ..why Anita ?
SUTTY1978
Jul 30, 2016 at 2:27 PM
Comment #13Jail, not at all just hoped to see a better team selection. It’s the final game of preseason and we’ve been told that this game would give us the best indication of what the team vs Fulham would be. Seems a very defensive selection. Also not sure where Ritchie is playing but I’m sure his best position is on the right, so is he there or is Vurn on the left?
Just seems a bit of a hodgepodge!
Nufc-83
Jul 30, 2016 at 2:28 PM
Comment #14Not happy with Anita playing wide as Ritchie and Aarons should be starting to get playing time ready for Friday.
No tv channels showing the game as far as I can see so best we can hope for is periscope đ
Shadow_Shearer
Jul 30, 2016 at 2:31 PM
Comment #15I would imagine Ritchie is playing left. Hard enough to see anita playin playing right wing, never mind the left wing.
Jail for Ashley
Jul 30, 2016 at 2:34 PM
Comment #16SUTTY,
I think there’ll be a few more signings before next Friday.