It may be a little later than planned, but Newcastle United will finally take on AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup this evening. The game against the League Two outfit was postponed after excessive flooding at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, causing severe damage to the pitch.
Newcastle donated £15,000 to the Wombles’ GoFundMe to help repair the damage at the stadium, with the fixture now being played at St James’ Park. The flooding ended any hopes of a giant killing on home soil, but Johnnie Jackson’s side, who are sixth in League Two, have made a bright start to the campaign and will want be full of confidence heading to Tyneside this evening.
For Eddie Howe and Newcastle, it presents an opportunity for a number of squad players to prove a point. The Magpies boss named a strong side for the game against Nottingham Forest in the previous round of the competition, but the Wombles are in a much lower division.
Newcastle are favourites for the tie, but will need no reminder of cup exploits against sides from lower in the pyramid. The FA Cup defeat to Cambridge United will be at the forefront of Howe’s mind when preparing for this one.
Against Wimbledon, you’d expect the Newcastle boss to rotate his side slightly, with Will Osula and Joe Willock in contention to start. For Osula, it’s the perfect opportunity to prove he’s more than a reliable understudy to Alexander Isak, with Callum Wilson still out injured.
The Danish youth international will make his full debut for the Magpies if he starts tonight, with Anthony Gordon Howe’s preferred option to lead the line against Manchester City at the weekend. Osula has played just seven minutes of senior football since joining from Sheffield United this summer, though it should come as no surprise with Howe taking his time to bed players into the squad.
Osdula was signed with an eye on the future and a strong performance tonight would ease any concerns about strengthening the forward line in the January transfer market. With Wilson still out injured, and in the final year of his contract, the general consensus is that Newcastle will look to bolster that area of the pitch next summer.
As for Willock, when he plays, the difference in Newcastle’s performance is notable. But therein lies the issue – keeping him fit.
The former Arsenal midfielder made just 14 appearances in all competitions for Howe’s side last season, with his campaign hampered by Achilles and hamstring issues. He’s made five appearances so far this season, starting the win over Nottingham Forest, bagging the opener at the City Ground after just one minute, but limped off after just 15 minutes with an injury.
Willock offers a different option in the Magpies’ midfield engine room and if they can keep him fit, there’s no need to strengthen their options in the middle of the pitch in January. Newcastle can focus on other areas of the pitch in the upcoming transfer window if both players perform this evening, though it’s worth remembering, respectfully, the standard of the opposition.
Howe will also hand the likes of Emil Krafth, Miggy Almiron and Lloyd Kelly minutes this evening, but the public pursuit of Marc Guehi only highlights centre-back being an area of the pitch they want to strengthen. As for Almiron, he was linked with a move away from the club in the recent summer transfer window, and he needs to vastly improve his output in the final third with right-wing also an area of interest to Newcastle’s transfer chiefs.
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