Defensive tank returns to the starting XI - Our predicted NUFC lineup to take on Brentford

One final game to go of the 2023/24 Premier League season and Newcastle United are set to take on Brentford on the final day with European qualification still on the cards - just.

Newcastle need to win, or at least match Manchester United's result at Brighton to secure seventh place in the league, but ideally they also need Chelsea to lose to snatch sixth spot back from the Blues. Sixth would guarantee us European football next season, while seventh would leave us at the mercy of the outcome of the FA Cup final. Should Manchester United win that, our European dream ends.

Eddie Howe has said this morning that Anthony Gordon is a doubt for Sunday after picking up a knock against Manchester United on Wednesday night, but we know that in Eddie Howe speak that means he will be fit.

We want two up top but we think Howe will start with one

Callum Wilson is expected to be back too, and as much as we were tempted to go with 4-4-1-1 with him and Alexander Isak up front, we think Howe will stick with the usual 4-3-3.

Goalkeeper

Martin Dubravka - I was told to give up on the Nick Pope thing, so I've gone with M-Dubz this time. I still think Pope will get the nod, but I was outvoted.

Defence

Kieran Trippier - Tripps looked well off it on Wednesday night and was at fault for Man United's opener. Hopefully, he's shaken off some of the rust for Sunday.

Fabian Schar - Fabi was supposed to be out for the season but he wasn't having it. Returned as a sub on Wednesday and we back him to start on Sunday.

Dan Burn - BDB will continue in his centre-back role but will relinquish the captains armband to Trippier.

Lewis Hall - One of Newcastle's best players on Wednesday night, the youngster is starting to show us what we paid the big bucks for.

Midfield

Sean Longstaff - The golden boy will not be dropped for the final game of the season.

Bruno Guimaraes - You know the score by now. Fit. Plays. End of.

Joelinton - I've been pushing this one for as often as the Pope thing, but we all feel this is the right time to start J7.

Forwards

Jacob Murphy - Howe's other golden boy will get the nod ahead of Miguel Almiron again.

Alexander Isak - A place on the bench for Wilson is what we're expecting as much as we'd love to see him start alongside Isak.

Anthony Gordon - AG10 is as resilient as Fabian Schar, we're sure he'll shake off the knock to start on Sunday.

Eddie can change many things via the bench on Sunday

Eddie Howe will have another strong bench to end the season and we've got a sneaking suspicion that if things aren't going our way come half time, there could be a change in formation with Wilson introduced and going two up top to increase firepower.

Miguel Almiron and Harvey Barnes as well as Elliot Anderson could all be introduced to cause damage too.

We don't care how we do it, as long as we sign off the season with a win. Howay the lads!