Eddie Howe has a dilemma on his hands - even the Newcastle United boss says so himself. Speaking after the Magpies' 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao, the Toon boss insisted he still did not know the 11 players that will line up against Nottingham Forest next week.
Some positions are nailed down. Kieran Trippier, Matt Targett, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Allan Saint-Maximin and Callum Wilson are all-but guaranteed to start in the Premier League opener if they remain fully fit. However, questions remains over other positions in Howe's XI.
Firstly, the heart of the defence is one area Howe may still be mulling over, with Sven Botman not nailed on to start despite his hefty fee this summer. The Dutchman played in Saturday's 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao, partnering Jamaal Lascelles.
