OPINION
While Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley will not give a care in the world over the League Cup, manager Rafael Benitez knows that it is the perfect opportunity to boost morale after a difficult start to the season – which is why a strong XI against Nottingham Forest is a must.
The Magpies met the Championship outfit at the same stage of the competition last season, losing at St James’ Park with a significantly weakened side, but with the clash taking place at the City Ground, Benitez and his men must be focused on instigating revenge.
Forest have had an unbeaten start to their season – including a penalty shoot-out win over Bury in the last round of the cup – and so will be no walkovers.
However, with a duty to protect his squad, Benitez needs to rotate cleverly to ensure he has enough quality on the pitch to secure victory – meaning the return of Jamaal Lascelles after his surprise absence against Chelsea on Sunday.
The defender is one of six changes that should be made, with Karl Darlow, Jamie Sterry, Ayoze Perez, Christian Atsu and Yoshinori Muto coming into the XI.
Between the sticks, Martin Dubravka should be rested in place of Darlow, with a back four including new signing Fabian Schar and youngster Sterry as they get given a run out, Ciaran Clark and DeAndre Yedlin dropping out.
With a lack of midfield options, Mohamed Diame and Ki Seung-Yung need to get their double act together and the more game time the better, while ahead of them it is all change.
Atsu should come in for Matt Ritchie to join Jacob Murphy on the flanks, and with plenty of Championship experience they should have no trouble in terrorising Forest.
Summer signing Muto is another who needs game time and so should be coming in for Salomon Rondon, who will be needed against Manchester City next weekend, while Ayoze Perez must return to fill the gap between midfield and attack, Federico Fernandez the man axed as Benitez reverts to a back four.