Abdulhafiz TeslimNewcastle United return to Carabao Cup action tonight when they travel to The Den to face Millwall, with Matthias Jaissle facing a major selection decision ahead of the 8 PM kick-off.
The Magpies have made a positive start under their new head coach and will now be hoping to continue their progress by booking a place in the next round of the competition.
However, with another demanding Premier League fixture schedule ahead, Jaissle has the opportunity to rotate his squad and give some of his less-used players a chance to impress.
The Newcastle boss has several options available to him, and significant changes to the team could be made for the trip to London.
One of the players who could benefit from the rotation is Bazoumana Touré.
The youngster made his mark in Newcastle’s previous Carabao Cup game against West Bromwich Albion, scoring in the 3-2 victory, and another opportunity could now be on the cards.
Jaissle will be keen to see whether Touré can build on that performance and show that he deserves more opportunities in the first team.
There is also plenty of interest surrounding Jacob Ramsey.
The midfielder has been working in a more advanced role and could provide Jaissle with another attacking option as the German coach considers how best to approach the tie.
Newcastle’s defensive selection will also be closely watched.
Tino Livramento has returned to the squad after his recent absence, although Jaissle has indicated that the full-back is not yet ready to start. Meanwhile, Dan Burn and Joelinton remain unavailable.
The goalkeeper position could also see a change.
Ewen Jaouen is unavailable after suffering an ankle injury, leaving Nick Pope as one of the obvious options between the posts.
For Millwall, the challenge will be to produce another strong performance at home after their impressive 4-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers.
The Lions will be determined to make life difficult for Newcastle, particularly with the famous atmosphere at The Den expected to play its part.
For Jaissle, however, the priority is clear.
Newcastle want to progress, but the manager must also ensure that he protects his key players while giving the wider squad an opportunity to prove themselves.
That makes tonight’s team selection particularly intriguing.
Several players are pushing for more minutes, and a strong performance against Millwall could give them a major boost in the battle for regular first-team football.
Newcastle will therefore be hoping their squad depth can make the difference as they attempt to continue their Carabao Cup campaign.
Millwall vs Newcastle United kicks off at 8 PM tonight at The Den.
Abdulhafiz Teslim
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