Norwich City predicted lineup vs Newcastle United - Premier League
Norwich City's ever-dwindling hopes of survival face another test with the visit of former-strugglers Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.
Despite their dire position, Dean Smith's side have taken four points from their last three matches and have the chance to win consecutive Premier League home games, in the same season, for the first time since the 2015/16 campaign.
Here's the lineup Smith may deploy to keep the Canaries' fight alive.
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
Tim Krul (GK) - The former Magpie kept a Premier League clean sheet every 3.7 games for Newcastle, compared to just one shutout for every six appearances in Norfolk.
Sam Byram (RB) - With Max Aarons enduring a rare run on the bench, Byram has started three consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since February 2020 - pre-pandemic.
Grant Hanley (CB) - Another previous wearer of the black and white stripes, Newcastle made a £1.5m loss when they shipped Hanley to Norwich after one season in 2017.
Ben Gibson (CB) - The nephew of Middlesbrough owner Steve Gibson has only ever faced Boro's northern neighbours once (drawing 1-1 at St James' Park in November).
Brandon Williams (LB) - Forced to sit out Norwich's visit to his parent club at Old Trafford last weekend, Williams is expected to make a swift return to the side.
2. Midfielders
Billy Gilmour (CM) - Norwich have collected just seven points in Gilmour's 20 league appearances this season (0.35 points per game) compared to 14 in his ten absences (1.4 PPG). Fortunately for the Scot, Smith doesn't put the same weight on those coincidences as his predecessor Daniel Farke.
Mathias Normann (CM) - Despite an eye for an ambitious ball, Normann's record of completing just two out of every three passes he attempts is anomalously poor.
Kenny McLean (CM) - The Scotland international has missed just one of Norwich's last 31 Premier League matches.
3. Forwards
Kieran Dowell (RW) - Despite a career spent (technically) as an Everton player until the summer of 2020, the perennial loanee's strike against Manchester United last time out was his first-ever Premier League goal.
Teemu Pukki (ST) - Norwich's glimmer of positivity this season has scored more Premier League goals against Newcastle than any other club, including a hat-trick on the last meeting between the pair at Carrow Road.
Milot Rashica (LW) - The team's leading chance creator has only provided one Premier League assist since Halloween.