Newcastle boss Steve Bruce to spring Ryan Fraser line-up surprise for Brighton

Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce will turn to his big guns once again for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Brighton.
Ryan Fraser scored on his debut in the Carabao Cup against BlackburnRyan Fraser scored on his debut in the Carabao Cup against Blackburn
Ryan Fraser scored on his debut in the Carabao Cup against Blackburn

Bruce made 10 changes for Tuesday night’s somewhat fortuitous 1-0 Carabao Cup second round victory over Blackburn and while defender Ciaran Clark, midfielder Matt Ritchie and summer signing Ryan Fraser got important game-time under their belts, he is likely to revert to the bulk of the men who started last Saturday’s 2-0 league win at West Ham.

Fraser is determined to feature against Brighton and play his first Premier League game in 197 days.

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“Well, he's a naturally fit lad, so he's in and around it," Bruce added. "He can't wait to get started, of course, so he will be involved at the weekend. I'll let you in your imagination pick whether he should be playing or not."

Striker Yoshinori Muto has joined Spanish club Eibar on a season-long loan deal, while keeper Martin Dubravka (ankle), defender Paul Dummett (tendon), defender Fabian Schar (shoulder), midfielder Matty Longstaff (thigh) and striker Dwight Gayle (knee) are still out.

Brighton will hand late fitness tests to Adam Lallana and Ben White ahead of the trip to St James’ Park.

Midfielder Lallana limped out of his Albion debut against Chelsea on Monday evening, while defender White had his first top-flight appearance cut short by an ankle problem.

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Potter was upbeat about the situation and plans to give Lallana – who was making his first senior appearance since early March – as much time as possible to prove he is ready to face Steve Bruce’s Magpies.

“He’s going to join the group today for training, so that’s really positive. The initial concerns, it wasn’t as bad as we thought,” said Potter.

“It’s understandable when you consider Adam’s history.

“But he’s been great since he’s been with us and we’re delighted to have him and we need to try and help him be on the pitch as much as possible.

“We’ll make a decision about that as late as we can to give him the time.

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“That decision probably won’t be made until Saturday in terms of how much involvement he will have in the game but he’s got a chance.”

Ben White’s maiden Premier League appearance also ended prematurely against Frank Lampard’s Blues.

The centre-back, who starred on loan at Leeds last term, was forced off late on in the 3-1 defeat by an ankle problem.

Like Lallana, Potter remains hopeful White can be involved this weekend.

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“Ben I think will take part in training today, so that’s good. We’ll see how he responds to that,” said Potter.

“It’s a bit like Adam. He’s got a chance for Newcastle but at the moment a little bit too early to say for definite.”

Goalkeeper Christian Walton (ankle) and long-term absentees Florin Andone and Jose Izquierdo remain unavailable to Albion boss Graham Potter.

Newcastle provisional squad: Darlow, Gillespie, Lewis, Yedlin, Manquillo, Krafth, Lascelles, Fernandez, Clark, Shelvey, Hayden, S. Longstaff, Hendrick, Ritchie, Fraser, Atsu, Barlaser, Murphy, Saint-Maximin, Almiron, Wilson, Joelinton.

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Brighton provisional squad: Ryan, Steele, Lamptey, White, Webster, Dunk, Burn, Veltman, Bernardo, Bissouma, Lallana, Stephens, Propper, Alzate, March, Gross, Mac Allister, Jahanbakhsh, Trossard, Connolly, Maupay, Gyokeres.