Brighton & Hove Albion v Newcastle: Likely line-ups for Premier League clash
Albion are three points ahead of third-from-bottom Cardiff with three games remaining, while Newcastle sit 13th and are already safe.
The Seagulls have failed to score in seven successive games, losing six of them, while Newcastle have won their last two matches.
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdMidfielder Davy Propper will again miss out with the hamstring injury he sustained at Wolves on Saturday but Seagulls boss Chris Hughton otherwise has a full squad to choose from.
Hughton made six changes for Tuesday's 1-0 defeat at Tottenham but could revert back to nearer the team which started last weekend's 0-0 draw at Wolves.
Full-backs Bruno and Gaetan Bong could return in place of Martin Montoya and Bernardo, while Solly March, Jose Izquierdo and Anthony Knockaert - back from suspension - will be pushing Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Jurgen Locadia for a place on the wing.
Glenn Murray is likely to come back in for Florin Andone to lead the line up front.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdLikely line-up: Ryan; Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Bong; March, Stephens, Bissouma, Izquierdo; Gross; Murray. Subs (from): Button, Montoya, Bernardo, Balogun, Burn, Kayal, Jahanbakhsh, Locadia, Knockaert, Andone.
NEWCASTLE
With Newcastle now safe, manager Rafael Benitez has to decide whether to go with his strongest line-up or give fringe players game time.
Defender Fabian Schar and midfielder Isaac Hayden were both back in training this week after picking up knocks in last week's 3-1 win over Southampton.
Club record signing Miguel Almiron has been ruled out for the rest of the season, so Jonjo Shelvey, Christian Atsu and Yoshinori Muto are among those who will be pushing for a place in the starting line-up.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdBenitez could give Monaco loanee Antonio Barreca a chance in Newcastle's last three games as he has played just four minutes since joining in January.
Freddie Woodman and Karl Darlow will hope to get a game in goal if regular number one Martin Dubravka is rested.
Likely line-up: Dubravka; Javi Manquillo, Lascelles, Schar, Dummett, Ritchie; Perez, Ki, Hayden, Atsu; Rondon. Subs (from): Woodman, Darlow, Fernandez, Diame, Yedlin, Shelvey, Muto, Barreca, Kenedy.
HAVE YOU READ?
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad