Newcastle play host to fellow strugglers Southampton on Saturday.
Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez will be desperate to get back to winning ways against Southampton on Saturday after losing to former club Liverpool last time out – and fans want Mikel Merino to start.
The 21-year-old has started just two Premier League games for the Toon in 2018, as the back injury he suffered earlier in the season continues to affect the Spanish midfielder – a problem he picked up shortly after his permanent £7million move.
He started and completed 73 minutes of Newcastle’s 2-0 defeat to Liverpool last weekend and admitted to feeling “tired” after the game, but Benitez may look to start the former Borussia Dortmund star again.
That is because Jonjo Shelvey has suffered a knee injury and is a major doubt to face Southampton, after the England international was sidelined from facing Liverpool.
It remains to be seen if Merino will be given the nod a second time to partner Mo Diame in the middle of the park, with Benitez also having Isaac Hayden to choose from but Toon fans have made themselves clear.
They want Merino to gain just his third league start of 2018, with one fan stating Merino looks “far more comfortable” than Hayden.
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