Newcastle have 10 points from the last 12 in the Premier League games and the push for European football next season is well and truly entering its home straight.
And, having had the taste of European nights earlier this season, players and fans alike are chomping at the bit to get back there again.
Hammering Spurs (again) has proven our credentials, but a trip to a challenging Palace under a revitalised new manager presents a different sort of football match.
Palace are riding high themselves after a thumping 5-2 win over the Toon’s top six rivals West Ham. Couple this with the Eagles’ deft 1-0 win over Liverpool and you now have two teams in good form both wanting to finish the season as strongly as possible – albeit for different reasons.
There has been a gap between the Spurs game and Wednesday’s Palace clash, something Eddie Howe was keen to exploit.
“We have tried to use the time productively; the lads are feeling good about themselves,” Howe said.
“We don’t want to lose our rhythm. We have tried to keep everything the same, we have tried to make sure we are physically where we need to be when the game kicks off.”
Team news
Injuries have become the word of the season on Tyneside and Howe remained realistic about the prospect of returns for the Palace game.
Lewis Miley and Joe Willock’s seasons are both over with recovery the focus for the two midfielders.
Howe hopes that Almiron, Joelinton, Pope and Trippier will return before the close of the campaign.
Callum Wilson is closest to a return, but Howe was tight-lipped on whether he would return to the squad for Wednesday’s game.
For the Eagles, Holding, Johnstone, Doucoure, Guehi, Lerma and Franca are all out through injury.
Predicted XI: Dubravka; Krafth, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Bruno, Longstaff, Anderson; Gordon, Isak, Barnes.
This was a tough one to call. Wilson is touch-and-go to make the squad and Howe is giving nothing away, so I presume if he is involved, he will be on the…
Source link : https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2024/04/23/crystal-palace-a-pre-match-thoughts-team-news-possible-line-ups-prediction-2/
Author : Joshua Nichol
Publish date : 2024-04-23 18:26:23
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