Chris Wood could be benched again v Man City

Chris Wood was left on the bench by Eddie Howe in Newcastle United’s 3-0 win over Norwich City and was given a 23-minute cameo in the Magpies 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, so it’s unlikely he’ll be recalled for Sunday afternoon’s trip to face Manchester City.

The 30-year-old joined Newcastle on a two-and-a-half-year deal from Burnley in mid-January and has gone on to make 15 Premier League appearances, scoring two goals. Newcastle put three goals past Norwich without Wood coming onto the pitch, so Howe may be thinking he no longer needs him.

Allan Saint-Maximin and Joelinton have shared attacking responsibility of late and the Magpies’ boss revealed in Friday’s pre-match press conference that Callum Wilson could make the matchday squad after returning to training this week, so Wood has a lot of competition for playing time.

Read Newcastle and some pundits predicted the New Zealand international may be deemed surplus to requirements when the season comes to a close and it’s starting to look that way. A third consecutive game on the bench would confirm that.

Newcastle paid £27m to sign Wood but already don’t have a place for him in the starting eleven after some below-par performances, so he may not see out his contract in the North-East.

In other news, Jamaal Lascelles should start for Newcastle v Man City