Newcastle United welcome Leeds United to St James' Park in the Premier League on New Year's Eve.
Eddie Howe ignited feverish dreams of a genuine title tilt when he admitted that 'anything is possible' after seeing his side briefly climb into second place. Kieran Trippier stoked the flames of burgeoning expectation when he declared: “The fans are there to dream."
Here's the XI Howe may deploy to keep the Toon Army's fantasies alive for another week.
Newcastle predicted lineup vs Leeds (4-3-3)
GK: Nick Pope - No Premier League goalkeeper to have made more than ten appearances this season can better Pope's 82% save rate.
RB: Kieran Trippier - 12 months ago, Trippier left reigning Spanish champions Atletico Madrid to join a club mired in the relegation zone. “I came when they were 19th in the league and got questioned about that," Trippier said. "But I believed and have believed throughout my whole career." He isn't the only one believing now.
CB: Fabian Schar - “Everyone told me Fabian was lazy and always needed a kick up the backside,” his former manager Axel Thoma remembers. Howe has had little reason for complaints (or kicks) of late.
CB: Sven Botman - Despite coming from a family of avid and talented hockey players, Botman’s preferred sport was obvious. “As a little boy, Sven came to watch me play hockey with his football,” his older bother Niels remembered.
LB: Dan Burn - Before Burn joined his boyhood club, he admits that it was always a little awkward when lining up against the Magpies: "Family friends would still be wanting Newcastle to win." Fortunately, everyone can cheer on the same side now Burn has come home.
CM: Sean Longstaff - While breaking back into Newcastle's first team is an impressive achievement, Longstaff's dad David takes the family prize in 2022 after he was inducted into the Ice Hockey UK Hall of Fame this year.
CM: Bruno Guimaraes - Donning the taxicab number his father used to drive, Guimaraes followed his paternal advice. “If you can, pick the 39," Guimaraes senior told his son. "It always brought good luck to our family.”
CM: Joe Willock - After scoring seven goals in the final seven games of his loan spell at Newcastle, Willock has found the net just four times in 50 matches as a permanent Magpie.
RW: Miguel Almiron - Not even halfway through the current campaign, Almiron has matched his Premier League goal tally from his first four seasons in England combined (nine).
ST: Chris Wood - The former Leeds striker may face his past employers if Callum Wilson isn't deemed to have fully recovered from his illness.
LW: Joelinton - The air may be getting thin as Newcastle underscore their top-three status but Joelinton isn't about to get carried away. "We have to be humble, keep our feet on the ground and work hard every day in training," the goalscorer against Leicester insisted.
Source : 90min