Whisper it quietly but fate now delivering this progressive Newcastle United midfield?

I am looking forward to seeing what the Newcastle United midfield will be on Saturday.

A 3pm kick-off at Craven Cottage as Matthias Jaissle will be hoping to head into the international break on a positive note.

The Newcastle United midfield has become a battle area of debate.

Who should and shouldn’t be playing there?

If you can win the midfield battle then that gives you a favourite’s chance of also winning any match.

Fair to say that the Newcastle United midfield hasn’t been winning too many of those battles in the pitch recently, nor many matches…

Sometimes fate can play such a huge part.

Whereby a manager ends up having to play certain players due to injury, suspension and so on. A selection that might not have been made otherwise…

Joelinton

I don’t want to see any player injured but I can’t say I am disappointed that Joelinton isn’t available this weekend.

At one point he was absolutely part of arguably the best midfield in the Premier League, on their day anyway, along with Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes. Joelinton was the loose cannon, the disruptor, the enforcer, he looked to affect and impact the game in dangerous areas, winning the ball.

However, neither then and especially not now, do you want Joelinton in the middle of the pitch in dangerous areas (for Newcastle United!) where if/when he loses the ball the opposition are right at us.

I think Joelinton has been part of the problem and not part of the solution in recent games. When the ball is played to him, it so often happens that his second touch ends up becoming a ‘tackle’!

I do like Jacob Ramsey and think he can potentially become a real asset this season but he has ruled himself out tomorrow due to his daft red card on Monday.

So what about the Newcastle United midfield on Saturday?

My hope is that fate will help deliver this Newcastle United midfield trio…

Sean Steur, Nico Gonzalez and Lewis Miley.

It seems a long time ago now but the opening day of the season, just how good were Sean Steur and Lewis Miley against Liverpool?

Newcastle United fans were raving about the potential of this 38-year-old (combined age!) pair despite the scousers sneaking an undeserved late draw.

Sean Steur surely has to come in now, his cameo against Everton ensuring that.

Whilst Lewis Miley is set to be available at last. Apparently he wanted to be in the squad on Monday but Matthias Jaissle and the medical staff insisted he needed a bit more time to ensure he is in best possible condition to do himself justice.

I would play Steur and Miley AND Nico Gonzalez.

Like a number of other United players, the criticism has been over the top on Nico. I think he has done alright overall and far too much has been asked of him in some recent matches.

By playing a three in the Newcastle United midfield, THIS trio, I think Matthias Jaissle will potentially chance on a winning combination, delivered partly/largely by fate, by timing.