Eddie Howe must decide how many changes he wants to make for tonight's match against Spurs
Newcastle United are entering another huge phase in their season with three matches in the space of seven days which could have a big impact on their campaign.
Eddie Howe's men face Tottenham Hotspur in tonight's Carabao Cup fourth-round tie, as United look to defend the trophy and clinch a place in the quarter-finals on home soil.
That's followed by a Premier League visiti to struggling West Ham, a game Newcastle must look to win if they are to get their push for a top-five place back on track following mixed start to their league campaign. Then it's backt to St James' Park to take on Athletic Bilbao in the Champions League with a huge opportunity to take a big step towards securing at least a spot in the play-off stage.
With injuries to deal with, Howe must decide how best to juggle his side over the next week, with rotation on the cards in key positions. No one will doubt how important the Carabao Cup is for Newcastle after those scenes at Wembley last March, and United won't give up the trophy without a fight.
Howe has options when it comes to switching things around, but who should start and who should sit this one out? Here's the verdict of our NUFC writers.
Lee Ryder
For me, this game is more important than the weekend trip to West Ham - despite Newcastle's unconvincing Premier League position.
That's why I would not make too many changes against Tottenham Hotspur and minimise with rotation. Spurs showed at Everton that even though they have injury woes they can turn up and put on a show.
I also think Thomas Frank will shrewdly be viewing the Carabao Cup the same way Eddie Howe has in the past three seasons. Long story short, this is their best chance of a trophy this term and you can still apply that to Newcastle as well.
It would be easy to shake things up and make a host of changes as well as keeping a few stars away from Howe's office door. Instead, I'd play this like it was a Premier League or Champions League game in terms of selection.
We can talk about players needing a rest and needing a breather all day long, but over the years, I've never known too many professional players who are happy at missing out on selection, even in the Carabao Cup. As Bruno has proven in recent times those who want to win enough dig deep enough.
The likes of Kieran Trippier, Bruno, Joelinton, Anthony Gordon, and Dan Burn are all needed against Frank's side. The only off-the-cuff selection I would make is giving Anthony Elanga 90 minutes to get some fitness and confidence in the tank.
My NUFC XI: Pope, Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Burn, Joelinton, Bruno, Tonali, Gordon, Elanga, Woltemade
Sean McCormick
Eddie Howe will want to take the Carabao Cup seriously. After all, his record in the competition across three seasons at Newcastle reads: finalists, quarter-finals exit on penalties and winners.
But with Newcastle competing in the Premier League and Champions League as well, he is also aware of the need to rotate his players and if he truly believes he has increased competition for places within his squad he shouldn't be afraid to make changes with two Premier League away trips and a Champions League clash against Athletic Bilbao on the horizon.
With that in mind, summer signing Aaron Ramsdale is in need of game-time amid Nick Pope's excellent form this season and this seems like the right chance to change goalkeeper.
With injuries to Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, the ability to change the defence up is hindered but it would make sense for Emil Krafth and Fabian Schar to come in. It is a toss up of who they replace but whichever two players get the nod out of Kieran Trippier, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman and Dan Burn to start, I would suspect the other two could replace them at some point during the game.
Given Sandro Tonali missed the last two matches through illness, he should start the game to offer a reminder of how seriously Howe takes the competition. He should replace Bruno Guimaraes, with Joe Willock and Jacob Ramsey coming in for Lewis Miley and Joelinton.
Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon have started the last two matches on the wings so it feels like a good time for Anthony Elanga and Harvey Barnes to come in on the wings.
Nick Woltemade is in need of a rest up front and Will Osula earned his chance up front with an impressive cameo from the bench in the win over Fulham.
My NUFC XI: Ramsdale; Krafth, Schar, Botman, Burn; Willock, Tonali, Ramsey; Elanga, Barnes; Osula
Stuart Jamieson
There are very few easy choices for Eddie Howe tonight as he weighs up the pros and cons of changing his side. Perhaps the easiest is restoring Sandro Tonali to the starting XI after a bout of illness. The Italian's presence is vital, especially if Howe decides to take Bruno Guimaraes out of the firing line.
Kieran Trippier is due a break, so I'm going with Emil Krafth at right-back, and while Sven Botman is OK after his head injury, there's no need to risk him with Fabian Schar ready to step in.
It's hard to see how Dan Burn gets a rest while Lewis Hall still not ready to return, but I would go with four changes further forward. Jacob Ramsey needs a start in midfield and this is the perfect opportunity, while the entire front line could rotate.
Will Osula and Anthony Elanga made a difference when they came on against Fulham, while Harvey Barnes' brace against Benfica means he's earned a start to give Anthony Gordon and Nick Woltemade a break.
My NUFC XI: Ramdale, Krafth, Schar, Thiaw, Burn, Tonali, Joelinton, Ramsey, Elanga, Barnes, Osula
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