Andrew Musgrove has been speaking on the Everything is Black and White podcast about the selection headache Eddie Howe has at Newcastle United.
The Newcastle boss resisted the urge to hand new signings Bruno Guimaraes and Dan Burn their full debuts for the club in their most recent Premier League game, although it did not matter as the Magpies managed to pick up all three points.
Who should start for Newcastle?
Lascelles!
Burn!
Howe now has a very interesting selection headache ahead of Newcastle’s next match at home on Sunday against Aston Villa, as he will be debating whether or not to hand either Guimaraes or Burn a start, with the latter having only missed out due to suffering from an unfortunate toe injury, so if he recovers, he may be in line to start.
However, Musgrove admits it’s a tough choice for Howe when it comes to which centre-back to leave out.
“It’s certainly going to be interesting to see who Dan Burn partners. We expect him to be fit for Sunday – does Eddie Howe take out one of Lascelles or Fabian Schar, what does he do? I mean, it’s a big decision for him.”
TIF Thoughts on Burn…
When the local lad signed with Newcastle United on Deadline Day, it may have been with the expectation to be starting week in, week out like he was at Brighton, so if Howe does intend to stick with Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles, Burn may well be questioning why he made the switch.
The Magpies have conceded 44 goals this season in the Premier League, but that department appears to be getting better of late, with the Magpies having not conceded more than one goal in a match since 19th December, and the competition Burn brings to the side may well be what they need to tighten things up further and get the best out of their defensive options.
That said, something’s got to give ahead of their next match and it will be interesting to see how Howe sets his side up.
In other news: More than ASM: MOTD pundit blown away by ‘superb’ Newcastle ace who had mammoth 71 touches