How Newcastle United could line up against Burnley

By Oliver Thomas | 09 Apr 2021 20:12, Last updated: 04 Jun 2025 23:31

Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce has admitted he has a "big decision" to make ahead of Sunday's important clash with Burnley, as he considers unleashing top scorer Callum Wilson.

The striker, who has 10 goals this season, tore a hamstring against Southampton on February 6 but has been back in training this week and is available for the trip to Turf Moor.

The Magpies still have a few injury concerns and another player that has been added to the list is captain Jamaal Lascelles, who could be ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining a stress fracture in his foot against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

Republic of Ireland international Ciaran Clark, who was an unused substitute against Spurs, is likely to deputise for Lascelles, although Federico Fernandez is also back after recovering from a calf problem.

Defender Fabian Schar remains unavailable with a knee problem, while winger Ryan Fraser is likely to miss out once again with a groin injury.

Allan Saint-Maximin made his first appearance since February 27 when he came off the bench against Spurs, and even though there is still caution over a hamstring problem, the Frenchman has trained all week and is in contention to start.

Bruce used a back five against Tottenham but could revert to a four-man defence, with full-backs Javi Manquillo and Jamal Lewis returning to the side at the expense of Jacob Murphy and Matt Ritchie.

Brazilian forward Joelinton, who scored his first goal since November last weekend, could keep his place up front if Wilson is not deemed fit to start, while former Burnley midfielder Jeff Hendrick will be looking to force his way into the first XI ahead of either Sean Longstaff or Joe Willock.

Newcastle possible starting XI: Dubravka; Manquillo, Fernandez, Clark, Lewis; Shelvey, Longstaff; Saint-Maximin, Willock, Almiron; Wilson

> Click here to see how Burnley could line up for this contest