Newcastle interim manager, John Carver, has just 13 outfield players to choose from when his side welcome Arsenal to St. James’ Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Magpies will be without key players such as top goalscorer, Papiss Cisse and their captain, Fabricio Coloccini, who will both be missing due to suspension.
Coloccini received a straight red card at Goodison Park last week as he watched on to see his side lose 3-0, and manager Carver may be forced to move Ryan Taylor back into the centre and play a three at the back formation.
It’s welcomed news for the Gunners, who are currently under threat from slight fatigue problems after a mountainous amount of games recently.
And with the injury list building at Newcastle, it gives Arsene Wenger the chance to experiment with the team, who on reflection have multiple options in their impressive squad depth.
Newcastle are also without Siem de Jong, Rolando Aarons and Mehdi Abeid, who although have joined back up with the team in training, will not be fit enough to face such an in-form Arsenal side.
Carver will be forced to add another Under 21’s name into the match-day squad, joining Jamie Sterry and Olivier Kemen who featured on the bench against Everton last week.
And although the youngsters are regulars with the Newcastle academy team, the Newcastle boss isn’t too keen to let his youngsters experience a taste of first team football against arguably the most in-form side in the Premier League at the moment, as he mentioned in a pre match press conference on Newcastle’s website:
“I would love to stick a couple of the young lads in but I don’t think it’s the right environment, certainly against an in-form side like Arsenal,” he continued.
“I watched them (Arsenal)Â on Tuesday night and they were pretty impressive, so it’s not the right time for the young lads to go into a situation like this.”
Arsenal are looking to cap off an impressive end to the season, and a win could send them to second in the table if Manchester City slip up. Newcastle are currently placed at 11th in the league and looking to recover from a poor show at Goodison Park last weekend.
Newcastle Full Injury List:
- Papiss Cisee – Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Suspension
- Fabricio Coloccini – Â Suspension
- Rolando Aarons – Â Â Â Thigh Muscle Strain
- Mehdi Abeid – Â Â Â Â Â Â Muscle Strain
- Massadio Haidara – Â Knee Injury
- Paul Dummett – Â Â Â Â Knee Injury
- Siem de Jong – Â Â Â Â Â Collapsed Lung
- Cheik Tiote – Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Knee Injury
- Steven Taylor – Â Â Â Â Â Calf/Shin Injury