Alan Shearer has urged Eddie Howe to include one of his most potent players in the starting lineup against Fulham. As Newcastle United prepares to face Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday, Shearer believes winger Harvey Barnes should be given a chance to contribute.
Fulham has managed to secure five points so far, while Newcastle has enjoyed a strong start, earning 10 points from 12. The Magpies remain unbeaten and aim to maintain that record during their trip to London. Fulham will be looking to bounce back after conceding a late equalizer against West Ham last weekend.
However, Newcastle is dealing with injury concerns, as Alexander Isak is doubtful and Callum Wilson is still sidelined with a back injury, leaving the team short on attackers. In light of this, Shearer is advocating for Barnes to add more creativity to the front line.
“This will be a tough game for Newcastle,” Shearer told Metro. “We’ll see if Eddie decides to start Harvey Barnes, which would be exciting alongside Gordon and Isak. Fulham is decent and has quality in their attack. I’ll predict a draw.” So far, Barnes has only started one of Newcastle’s Premier League matches this season.
Howe has praised Barnes, stating, “Harvey has a real calmness in front of goal and excellent positioning. You don’t score as many goals as he does without being in the right areas. He’s humble and willing to work for the team. I’m delighted with his start to the season.”
Regarding injuries, Howe commented on Isak’s situation: “He grazed his eye, which was initially thought to be the main issue, but he also has a knock on his foot. We’ll assess him further today.” As for Wilson, Howe noted, “Callum won’t be available for the Fulham match. We’re hoping he can return to full training by the next international break. In the meantime, Anthony Gordon performed well against Wolves, and Will Osula has been impressive since joining us.”
