Eddie Howe must look at the bigger picture when he names his Newcastle United starting XI against Burnley.
It is a must-win game after Newcastle United’s frustrating draw with Spurs, but Eddie Howe also has the distraction of Bayer Leverkusen and Sunderland on the horizon.
While the Newcastle United manager always takes things one game at a time, those fixtures must be in his thoughts when he picks his team to face Burnley.
With that in mind, it feels obvious what he should do regarding superstar midfielder Sandro Tonali.
Who is Sandro Tonali? Say salve to Newcastle United’s Italian midfield maestro
Three HUGE games on the horizon, but are you worried Newcastle could get complacent against a struggling Burnley team?
If Newcastle turn up with the same tempo they set when facing big teams, they will win this game comfortably. If they are complacent, Burnley can hurt them.
Paul Merson on Newcastle vs Burnley for Sportskeeda
Eddie Howe gives Sandro Tonali injury update ahead of Newcastle United vs Burnley
The 25-year-old was forced off at half-time against Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday night, making him a doubt for the Burnley game.
But Eddie Howe has provided a positive update on Tonali’s fitness, admitting during his pre-match press conference that he does have a chance of being involved against Scott Parker’s side.
“He’s had a scan and we don’t think it’s too bad,” he said via the club’s official X account.
“We’ll give him every chance to declare himself fit. It was a knock very similar to the one Joelinton suffered, a dead leg type feeling. Sandro felt it was concerning enough to get scanned but we’ll see how he is today and we’ll give him every chance to be fit.”
Sandro Tonali sprays his knee during Newcastle United vs Tottenham Hotspur.
Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images
Based on what Howe has said, it sounds like Tonali has a strong chance of being available for Newcastle United vs Burnley.
However, that does not mean he should play. After the knock he took against Spurs, the Toon boss should act with caution and leave Tonali out of his starting XI.
There are enough midfield options for Newcastle to cope without their number eight, who can focus on being fully fit for the Champions League trip to Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.
While Tonali has been called a ‘beast’ in the past amid his never-ending running, Howe should take the opportunity to give him a rest.
If you bumped into Eddie Howe on the street right now, what changes would you tell him to make vs Burnley?!
I’d be telling him to get Anthony Gordon in the XI after his cameo against Spurs!
Eddie Howe looks on prior to Newcastle United’s Champions League game against Marseille.
Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
The Newcastle United player who should replace Sandro Tonali
There is an obvious contender to replace Tonali in the Newcastle United midfield.
Bruno Guimaraes is poised to return, with the skipper featuring in Geordie Boot Boys’ predicted Newcastle United XI to face Burnley.
The 28-year-old can either be used as a six or an eight, as Howe also has the luxury of the versatile Lewis Miley. He has also looked comfortable in a deeper role, but has majorly impressed higher up the pitch during the Magpies’ previous two games.
Between Bruno and Miley, Newcastle have enough depth to be able to leave Tonali out.