Newcastle United will host Fulham at St. James’ Park in the EFL Cup quarter-finals, with Eddie Howe demanding a response to their weekend loss.
Newcastle United will return to home comfort as they have a big task on their hands to retain their EFL Cup trophy, starting with the game against Fulham on Wednesday. The Magpies won the competition last season by beating Liverpool in the final, and now they must overcome Fulham to reach the semi-finals.
The hosts come into this clash on the back of another inconsistent display away from home in the Premier League. Newcastle United have three wins in 12 trips away from home across all competitions, with wins over Bradford City, Everton and Union Saint-Gilloise showcasing how bad they have been on the road.
The latest of those disappointing results on the road came against bitter rivals Sunderland at the weekend in the Wear-Tyne Derby. A Nick Woltemade own goal settled the clash at the Stadium of Light, and Eddie Howe will now seek a response as Newcastle United take on Fulham in the EFL Cup quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Fulham came through victorious in their away trip to Burnley at the weekend, as their inconsistent run of results continued. After winning away at Tottenham, the Cottagers put out a show against Manchester City, but unfortunately lost that game 5-4, before succumbing to Crystal Palace.
Hence, the away win over Burnley will be seen as a welcome result by Marco Silva, who will take the momentum from that result ahead of the EFL Cup quarter-finals. It is a big test ahead for the Cottagers, who have already lost at St. James’ Park this season, back in October. So, Silva will be out for revenge in the upcoming midweek cup clash.
Team News & Tactics
Newcastle United
Newcastle United have a significant list of injured players out of the upcoming contest with Fulham, as Dan Burn, Nick Pope, Kieran Trippier, William Osula, and Sven Botman are all out. The majority of those being defensive issues, Eddie Howe could be forced to re-use his main first team backline for this one, although he may have a bit of scope for alterations.
Dan Burn suffered a broken rib and punctured lung at the Sunderland clash, which could leave him out for a lengthy period. Howe would have been happy to see long-term absentee Yoane Wissa make a comeback, and the former Brentford star could be set for a full debut, and possibly replace the distraught Nick Woltemade in the attacking third.
Howe is expected to select a strong lineup, as Fabian Schar and Malick Thiaw are set to feature in the backline alongside Valentino Livramento and Lewis Hall, as Aaron Ramsdale will continue to guard the goal in Pope’s absence. Lewis Miley, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton will feature in the midfield, while Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes will support Wissa in the front three.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Livramento, Schar, Thiaw, Hall; Miley, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Wissa, Barnes
Fulham
Fulham are probably one of the hardest hit due to the upcoming AFCON, and Marco Silva will have to make do without key stars Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi, and Samuel Chukwueze, with the trio being called up by Nigeria.
Jorge Cuenca will likely deputise for Bassey, alongside Joachim Andersen, while Kenny Tete and Timothy Castagne will feature in the full-back roles. There will be a familiar look to the starting lineup, as Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic will marshal the midfield setup for the Cottagers.
The in-form Harry Wilson will keep his place on the right wing for Fulham against Newcastle United, while Joshua King could come into the attacking midfield role in place of Emile Smith Rowe, who has also been in some goalscoring form of late. Kevin could be handed a start on the left wing, while Raul Jimenez will lead the line for the Cottagers.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Andersen, Cuenca, Castagne; Berge, Lukic; Wilson, King, Kevin; Jimenez
Key Stats
- Fulham have won three of their last four away games across all competitions. Fulham’s only previous defeat to
- Newcastle United in the League Cup came back in the 1974/75 edition in the Last 16 stage.
- Newcastle United have faced Fulham on three occasions in the League Cup.
- Newcastle United are unbeaten at St. James’ Park in their last eight games across all competitions.
Player to Watch
Yoane Wissa
The big summer signing for Newcastle United will finally get his chance to start from the start after an injury-hampered start to life as a Magpies star. The attacker completed his protracted move from Brentford on deadline day of the summer window and immediately suffered a serious knee problem while on international duty with DR Congo.
However, Wissa has since returned to action in the loss against Sunderland, and he would be in a position to give Eddie Howe a great option in the final third alongside Nick Woltemade. Hence, it will be crucial for the DR Congo international to hit the ground running, as Newcastle United desperately need a lethal option to fire them into the top-four race as well as the semi-finals of the EFL Cup.
Prediction
Newcastle United 2-1 Fulham
Fulham are probably coming into the clash with a better run of form, although they are expected to continue their inconsistent vein of form at St. James’ Park. Having already lost at the venue, and given how strong the Magpies are here, it will be a difficult prospect to secure a win.
Newcastle United will want to bounce back from their disappointing Derby Day defeat to Sunderland, as Howe will want another concerted run at the EFL Cup this term. Given their strong home form, where they are eight games unbeaten across all competitions, it is difficult to see past a Newcastle United victory against Fulham.
