Newcastle United face a visit from high flying Leicester City, which is hardly the way Steve Bruce would have wanted to see in the New Year. The Magpies manager will be hoping the Foxes arrive with a hangover from their victory over West Ham, though Brendan Rodgers’ side is likely to be back to full strength after having made nine changes against the Hammers.
Bruce himself will need to decide what the best formula is to get the Toon back to winning ways, they are currently on a run of consecutive defeats, sliding ever closer to the drop zone as the bottom of the table has begun to tighten up.
The central dilemma for Bruce is in midfield. He does not have an abundance of options to select from due to injuries, but in the centre of the park, he must decide to go with either Miguel Almiron or Sean Longstaff. Against Everton, he chose the former, and the move did not go to plan as the Toffees came out 2-1 winners. The Paraguayan offers a much more significant attacking threat and is crucial in providing some pace to Newcastle counter attacks, but he can leave Jonjo Shelvey and Issac Hayden exposed in the centre of the park.
Meanwhile, the elder of the Longstaff brothers offers a more stable option who is assured in possession and able to contribute more in defence, but the immobile midfield trio can leave Joelinton and Andy Carroll isolated when leading the line. In spite of this, it seems that Bruce is set on deploying two strikers while Allan Saint-Maximin is side-lined. His return, which is due to occur in mid-January, may signal the end of the strike partnership but for now, Newcastle need to adapt their game with two up top.
As it has been unsuccessful in the past two Premier League matches, where Newcastle have conceded six goals, Bruce may wish to take Almiron out of the starting eleven. Longstaff’s introduction should increase defensive solidity and hopefully the wing-backs, Jetro Willems and DeAndre Yedlin, will be able to keep up with play to provide width. Newcastle will have to be more defensively resolute to overcome Leicester City, and Almiron may be more effective if deployed from the bench.
It is a dilemma for Bruce, but one the veteran boss simply must get right to ensure the Magpies’ start to 2020 provides a platform for Premier League survival in the current campaign.
