Matthias Jaissle faces key selection dilemma for Liverpool encounter
The Austrian manager must determine his central pairing for the opening league fixture
With just five days remaining until Newcastle United begin their Premier League season against Liverpool, uncertainty surrounds who will feature in Jaissle’s first starting eleven.
A transformative summer has left supporters with numerous queries heading into the campaign, with cautious optimism accompanying the new chapter but tempered by concerns over the unknown.
The midfield has undergone the most significant changes, with established players Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali having moved on. Their replacements so far are promising youngsters Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba, while the club anticipate securing another, more seasoned option shortly.
They hold interest in Manchester City’s Nico Gonzalez, with discussions reportedly underway between the clubs regarding a potential transfer worth approximately £52 million.
With vice-captain Joelinton sidelined through injury and Lewis Miley recently returning to action following a leg fracture, discussions about who will anchor the side against Liverpool have been extensive.
Here, our Newcastle writers share their thoughts on who Jaissle should select for this pivotal area of the field.
Lee Ryder
Based on pre-season observations, Jacob Ramsey appears the most suitable choice to begin as the deeper-lying midfielder in the Liverpool fixture.
Ramsey has already established himself as a reliable option for Jaissle and provided stability during pre-season preparations, possessing sufficient game time accumulated.
Despite featuring for just 45 minutes in pre-season, I would select Lewis Miley alongside Ramsey as the second central midfielder, believing the two can form an effective partnership.
Although Aladji Bamba delivered a solid performance against Strasbourg and showed promise in Valencia and sections of the Murrayfield match, I feel he warrants caution before being thrown straight into action against Liverpool.
Joe Willock also merits consideration regarding minutes played, but my preference would be for Ramsey and Miley.
Sean McCormick
Twelve months ago, Newcastle’s central trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton were praised as potentially the finest in the Premier League.
Jump forward a year and Guimaraes and Tonali have been sold, and while Joelinton has just been appointed as Newcastle’s vice-captain, he will miss the opening weeks of the campaign due to injury.
Newcastle’s current options in the middle are youthful and promising but likely require a senior presence alongside them, and this represents the club’s priority in the transfer market.
As things stand, however, Lewis Miley must be the first name included in the midfield, and he must be the player Newcastle entrust with significant responsibility this season.
At just 20 years old, he possesses remarkable experience and is prepared to emerge as a key figure this term. The uncertainty lies in identifying his partner.
Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur both possess bright prospects, with Steur in particular having excelled during pre-season. However, Jacob Ramsey concluded last season strongly and, discounting an error leading to a goal, was the standout midfielder in Sunday’s draw with Strasbourg.
Personally, I would prefer to see him deployed in a more advanced position within Jaissle’s 4-2-3-1 system, but given the lack of experience in the centre of the park, I would select him alongside Miley for the Liverpool match on Sunday.
Ross Gregory
The choices are restricted here, honesty demands acknowledgment. When Eddie Howe transitioned towards a 4-2-3-1 shape towards the end of the previous season, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali were his preferred options. Now they have departed – one to Arsenal and the other to Tottenham.
Thus far in their positions have arrived Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur. Bamba has not yet fully established his case while Steur has demonstrated quality but still requires physical development.
Lewis Miley will eventually secure one position but has managed only 45 minutes of football this pre-season. Joelinton would have represented another possibility but is injured (and whether he can function effectively in a two-man midfield warrants separate discussion on another occasion).
Jacob Ramsey enters the frame and holds a reasonable chance of beginning against Liverpool, though I consider him better suited in an advanced role.
What Newcastle require – and promptly – is a signing exuding solidity and know-how. Joao Palhinha? Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg? Should they secure one of these, I would immediately field them alongside Steur.
Stuart Jamieson
It may prove a concerning indicator of Newcastle United’s recruitment efforts that they enter the new season having secured two central midfielders, yet still lacking another.
Not only would an experienced operator likely begin against Liverpool, assuming he signs in time, but he would probably partner Lewis Miley in the optimal eleven.
What does that suggest about Aladji Bamba and Sean Steur? Both undoubtedly possess ability, but prepared for Premier League demands? We are about to discover.
Expecting Miley to immediately enter the side when he has managed only 45 minutes of football during pre-season represents a significant demand, so while he would typically be my preferred choice, I am selecting the newly-signed pairing of Bamba and Steur, with Jacob Ramsey operating in the number ten position behind them.
It is bold and represents a risk, but I would prefer to see Ramsey higher up the field and would be cautious about placing excessive burden on Miley.