Newcastle United consider unleashing £86m quartet vs Manchester United after being ruled out for months

Eddie Howe will consider making changes to his Newcastle United starting XI for Wednesday’s Premier League meeting against Manchester United (kick-off 8pm).

The Magpies can secure a top seven finish and finish above Man United for the first time in Premier League history if they avoid defeat at Old Trafford. And given the significance of the fixture, Howe has some crucial decisions to make in regards to team selection.

Howe has recently welcomed back Joelinton and Miguel Almiron, who have both came off the bench in the last two matches against Burnley and Brighton & Hove Albion. Nick Pope has been an unused substitute while Kieran Trippier made a late cameo on Saturday.

“I've got decisions to make but I've got decisions to make in quite a few areas of the team,” Howe told NewcastleWorld. “But I'd urge caution with the players that have had long-term injuries because I think the biggest mistake I can make is push them too quickly and then they break down, and that doesn't help anybody.

“I'll try and make the right decisions based on the information I receive from the medical team and speaking to the players. And of course, tactically how we set up in the game and what's the best way to go. “

Joelinton, Almiron, Trippier and Pope were all named among the substitutes last time out but remain at different stages in their recovery.

Howe said: “Of course I could and it’s nice to have those options. I need to look at them individually, I don’t think I can sort of lump them together because they’ve come back from different injuries.”

Joelinton spent four months out with groin injury and Pope was sidelined for five months after dislocating his shoulder. Trippier, meanwhile, was out of action for nine weeks because of a groin issue and Almiron missed a month with a knee issue.

The four players would undoubtedly bolster Newcastle’s starting XI but Howe remained coy over his plans.

Howe said: “Joey’s is a serious injury that required an operation so I need to make sure he’s the Joe that we know and not somebody who is trying to find his rhythm and form with two games to go, that would be foolish of me.

“It’s great to have him fit and available, and it’s the same with Miggy and Nick. Just their presence is vital and I’ll see whether I use them from the start or not. 

“Nick is another player who has come back from a serious injury, this isn’t a minor a problem that he had, this is a big problem to a big area of the body for a goalkeeper. Yes, he’s been back technically fit but he’s still been getting his rhythm back from the training work that he’s been doing even now because naturally you’re doing things on a consistent basis you haven’t done for a while.

“I’ve been really pleased with how he’s looked, he continued to improve through training but like every game I have decisions to make and that’ll be one.”