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Newcastle predicted XI for City: Bruce drops 23-year-old, £20m man starts

Steve Bruce, Manager of Newcastle United looks on prior to the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United at Molineu...
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Steve Bruce, Manager of Newcastle United looks on prior to the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United at Molineux on January 11, 2020 in Wolverhampton,… (Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

Steve Bruce has been consistent with his team selections since Newcastle United have returned to action, but may be forced into making changes at the weekend.

Both Isaac Hayden and Matt Ritchie are injury concerns ahead of Newcastle’s game against Manchester City in the FA Cup.

In an ideal world the two Newcastle midfielders surely would have started for Bruce, but he may not want to risk them if they aren’t fully fit.

As a result it could be that £20 million man Valentino Lazaro (The Sun) and Nabil Bentaleb are given their first starts since the return.

Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images

There is even a possibility that Newcastle switch to a back-five to combat City, but Bruce may be loathed to change a system, which has brought in four points out of six so far.

Newcastle may also make a change up-front, with Andy Carroll’s extra physicality favoured over Joelinton.

The Magpies’ front man is likely to be isolated for large portions of the contest, and Carroll may just give City’s defence more problems than the Brazilian.