Blades clash ‘a big ask’ for players – Al
ALAN Shearer believes it will be a ‘big ask’ for those Newcastle United players who played in the extra-time defeat against Arsenal to go again at Sheffield United this evening.
Boss Steve Bruce made seven changes for the trip to the Emirates and Martin Dubravka, Isaac Hayden, Ciaran Clark, Paul Dummett, Sean Longstaff and Jeff Hendrick all ended up playing 120 minutes in the FA Cup third-round tie.
Andy Carroll, meanwhile, was on the field for 105 minutes while substitute Matt Ritchie had 75 minutes under his belt after replacing Jamaal Lascelles at halftime in the 2-0 defeat.
Traditionally, third-round ties go to a replay if there is nothing to separate the two sides after 90 minutes but the FA decided to scrap that tradition this season to try and ease the pressure on the football calendar amid the pandemic.
Newcastle did not have much preparation time to start with for the game against Sheffield United but the Magpies now have to contend with extra-time fatigue as well as Shearer pointed out.
He said: “It was a tough night for Newcastle at Arsenal.
“They had the chances – they had two very good chances and the game could have and should have been wrapped up – a tough night not only with the defeat but with extra time.
“They go into Tuesday’s match at six ‘o clock, which is going to be a big ask for a lot of these players, but they will look back on those chances they missed.”
Callum Wilson and Jonjo Shelvey missed Newcastle’s third-round tie as a precaution but the pair could feature against the struggling Blades tonight
Karl Darlow, Federico Fernandez and Fabian Schar were all given the night off at Arsenal while midfielder Matty Longstaff was an unused substitute.