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Lee Ryder & Ciaran Kelly & Sean McCormick & Chris Knight & Andrew Musgrove & Matthew Ketchell & Aaron Stokes

How Newcastle United should line up vs Tranmere as Eddie Howe forced into changes

Newcastle United will be hoping to avoid a repeat of last year's Carabao Cup second-round when they travel to Tranmere Rovers on Wednesday evening. The League Two side will be hoping to cause a huge scalp as Eddie Howe eyes a long cup run.

The Magpies boss has big changes to make after a small number of knocks picked up in the 3-3 draw with Manchester City. Callum Wilson, Dan Burn and Ryan Fraser will all miss the cup tie through injury.

Our Chronicle Live team have had their say as to how Newcastle should line up at Prenton Park this evening.

READ MORE: Four Newcastle United stars in need of impressive Tranmere showing with places up for grabs

Aaron Stokes

A good opportunity to get as many fringe players involved as possible. Howe will give a chance to fringe players, while still ensuring it is a strong XI on Merseyside.

Martin Dubravka starts for me. I'd also like to see Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles together at the back. Further forward, Sean Longstaff deserves a run in the midfield from the outset.

Elliot Anderson is 'chomping at the bit' to start and he must. It's a crucial time for the youngster with the transfer deadline looming. Chris Wood needs to seize the chance with Callum Wilson out injured.

Aaron's team: Dubravka, Krafth, Lascelles, Botman, Ritchie; S Longstaff, M Longstaff, Anderson; Almiron, Murphy, Wood.

Lee Ryder

Eddie Howe is set to ring the changes and mix things up a bit. And this game comes at a time when a clutch of first-team stars and fringe players all need time on the pitch.

Howe may stick with some of the spine with his first-team line-up with the likes of Joelinton and Sven Botman staying in contention.

But there could be up to nine other changes. This will be the hardest team sheet of the season so far to predict.

Lee's team: Dubravka, Krafth, Lascelles, Botman, Dummett, Joelinton, S Longstaff, Anderson, Murphy, Ritchie, Wood

Ciaran Kelly

There's always a balance with these games in not making too many changes, but the difference now is Newcastle United actually have enough depth in a number of positions to surely get the job done on Wednesday night.

Martin Dubravka, Emil Krafth and Chris Wood are all senior internationals and experienced heads like Jamaal Lascelles, Paul Dummett and Matt Ritchie have played in enough of these ties over the years to ensure there is no room for complacency.

Elliot Anderson, meanwhile, will be desperate to impress as a number of players look to seize a rare opportunity to impress from the off.

Ciaran's team: Dubravka; Krafth, Lascelles, Botman, Dummett; Longstaff, Willock, Anderson; Murphy, Wood, Ritchie

Chris Knight

Howe has stressed the importance of cup competitions, and victory at Prenton Park is a must. However, the schedule has not been kind to Newcastle and I believe the head coach has the options at his disposal to make wholesale changes and still be confident in a performance and a result.

Krafth impressed in Trippier's absence at the end of last season, while injuries have prevented Lewis from being given a real chance to impress Howe on the pitch. Lascelles and Dummett should be well placed to handle any aerial threat should Tranmere opt for a physical approach.

Anderson deserves his chance, while S Longstaff could consider himself unlucky not to feature more under Howe. M Longstaff is seemingly out of first-team contention but could put himself in the shop window for another loan, while the attack picks itself with the need to rest Almiron and Saint-Maximin

Chris' team: Dubravka; Krafth, Lascelles, Dummett, Lewis; M Longstaff, S Longstaff, Anderson; Ritchie, Wood, Murphy

Andrew Musgrove

With a busy few weeks coming up for Newcastle United and injuries starting to creep into the squad, you can bet Eddie Howe is praying for no more casualties against Tranmere. Callum Wilson was probably always likely to miss out regardless of the knock he picked up against Manchester City but it's the likes of Ryan Fraser who may feel particularly frustrated to be struck down with an injury.

Howe has decent options across the field but in an ideal world you'd look to play as many as your first team as possible to keep the momentum going but that said, I expect changes and a lot of them. Martin Dubravka will no doubt start, Jamaal Lascelles too and I'd expect Elliott Anderson to also get the nod.

Will Howe change the entire team? Potentially. You could see Krafth at right-back, Matt Bondswell on the left side with Lascelles in the centre-back role alongside either Sven Botman or Fabian Schar simply because he's not got another option.

Further afield, Joelinton may be the sole survivor from Sunday's XI - I could see him line-up alongside Sean Longstaff and Elliott Anderson with Matt Ritchie in place of Allan Saint-Maximin and Jacob Murphy in for Miguel Almiron. Wood will start up-front hoping to open his account for the season.

It's a big game for the likes of Anderson, Murphy and Wood - three with a real point to prove. You then however look at the potential bench - and the glaring lack of options up-top should Wood get injured or Howe needs to introduce someone to change the game. We could potentially see Santiago Munoz or Michael Ndiweni on the bench but it just goes to highlight the importance of getting in a striker before the window closes.

Andrew's team: Dubravka; Krafth, Lascelles, Botman, Bondswell; Longstaff, Joelinton, Anderson; Ritchie, Murphy, Wood

Sean McCormick

Newcastle must take the cups seriously now they are a club burning with ambition. But Eddie Howe also has a duty to look after his players as they negotiate the second of five matches inside a fortnight.

League Two Tranmere will provide stern opposition but this is the perfect opportunity for Newcastle to completely freshen their starting XI and give a number of players on the fringes a chance to impress. Captain Jamaal Lascelles, midfielder Sean Longstaff and forward Chris Wood will be chief among those, while Martin Dubravka will be keen to remind United of his qualities.

It will also be the perfect time to hand teenage sensation Elliot Anderson a first start. Given his transformative impact for Bristol Rovers in the same division as tomorrow's opponents last term, it could be a breakout night for the Magpies' academy graduate.

Sean's team: Dubravka; Krafth, Lascelles, Fernandez, Dummett; S Longstaff, M Longstaff, Anderson; Murphy, Ritchie; Wood

Matthew Ketchell

Let's mix it up and get some minutes into the fringe players. I really want to see more of Elliot Anderson in the No.10 role, let's see where Jamal Lewis is at, and at the same time keep Joelinton, Schar and Botman ticking over. The latter I think is lacking a bit of confidence so some more minutes of English football could really help.

Dubravka in goal is a must, he hasn't done much wrong since he returned from his long term injury last season and should be given the League Cup and FA Cup games in my opinion.

Matthew's team: Dubravka; Krafth, Schar, Botman, Lewis; Longstaff Joelinton; Murphy, Anderson, Fraser; Wood

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