Newcastle predicted line-up vs. Chelsea: two key changes made as £37m trio miss out

Newcastle United's hopes of making an immediate return to European competition were boosted by last weekend's home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers - but another stern test lies in wait for Eddie Howe and his players on Monday night.

The Magpies will travel to Stamford Bridge looking to claim a rare league double over Chelsea after they romped to a 4-1 win over the Blues in a meeting at St. James' Park in November. Yet there will be an element of revenge in order for Howe's men after Chelsea ended their hopes of reaching a second successive Carabao Cup Final with penalty shoot-out defeat of the Magpies in a quarter-final tie at Stamford Bridge in December.

Howe's injury woes have been well-versed throughout what has been a challenging season on Tyneside as the Magpies boss has went into battle without the services of several key players for large parts of the campaign. That lengthy injury list is showing some signs of receding - but Howe will still be without some major players when his side travel to West London on Monday night.

Goalkeeper and defence

There will be two key absentees from the Magpies defence for their visit to Stamford Bridge. Nick Pope is making good progress on the shoulder injury he suffered against Manchester United in December but the England goalkeeper will remain on the sidelines for the time being and that will hand another opportunity to Martin Dubravka.

Tino Livramento will also be handed a chance to impress in his favoured right-back position after the calf injury Kieran Trippier suffered in last weekend's win against Wolves has ruled the former Atletico Madrid star out until after the international break. Despite those two absentees, the remainder of the Magpies defence will have something of a familiar feel with Fabian Schar, Sven Botman and Dan Burn all set to start.

Midfield

Sandro Tonali will not return until next season as he continues to serve a ban for breaching betting regulations in Italy and Joelinton will not be back in contention until the final weeks of the season as he goes through rehabilitation on a thigh injury. That leaves Eddie Howe to select three midfielders from Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock and Lewis Miley. It seems likely it is the latter of that quartet that will be the odd man out, with the youngster set to take his place on the bench.

Forwards

For the first time in what must feel like an eternity for Howe, there are some decisions for Howe to make in his forward trio - although his options are limited in one key position at the top end of the pitch. Callum Wilson will not feature as the former Bournemouth star remains around two months from returning from a chest injury and that means Alexander Isak will continue to lead the line for the Magpies.

Anthony Gordon's form on the left-hand side means the England hopeful is highly likely to retain his place in the side - but it is on the other wing where Howe has a big call to make. Jacob Murphy impressed during the win against Wolves but summer signing Harvey Barnes and Miguel Almiron are both pushing for starts.

Newcastle United predicted line-up vs. Chelsea

Dubravka, Livramento, Schar, Botman, Burn, Guimaraes, Longstaff, Willock, Barnes, Gordon, Isak.