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Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has defended his midfield selection, expressing confidence in the combination of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton, despite recent questions about their collective effectiveness.
While the trio has become Howe’s preferred midfield setup, he maintains significant depth in this area, with Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff, and Lewis Miley providing additional options from the bench, as demonstrated in their recent Chelsea fixture.
Though Wednesday’s Carabao Cup match against Enzo Maresca’s team might present an opportunity for rotation, Howe remains steadfast in his belief that his first-choice midfield trio can succeed together. He acknowledged that while recent results haven’t been ideal, he sees no fundamental issues with the midfield’s performance.
“Though results might suggest otherwise, I’ve seen enough positive signs in our midfield play,” Howe explained. “We have three exceptional players who, given time to develop their understanding, can work effectively together. While perfection hasn’t been achieved yet, our recent performances show we’re creating chances and remaining competitive.”
Addressing the fans’ visible frustration when Tonali was substituted at Stamford Bridge, Howe expressed appreciation for their support of the Italian midfielder while requesting that any disagreement with his decisions be expressed after matches to avoid potentially affecting substitute players’ confidence.
Howe elaborated on his substitution strategy, explaining the challenges of balancing the need for impact changes while giving incoming players sufficient time to influence the game. He noted that his preference for early substitutions when chasing games often requires difficult decisions about who to remove, particularly given the quality throughout his midfield options.
Regarding Tonali, who has been substituted in every Premier League start since returning from his betting suspension, Howe emphasized the potential for improvement across the entire squad. He specifically highlighted the need for increased goal threat from midfield positions, noting that Tonali’s technical excellence needs to translate into greater game influence and scoring contributions to address the team’s overall scoring challenges.
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