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A bit of pre-match reading
Former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe, who was taken ill last weekend, has been diagnosed with pneumonia and is likely to miss Newcastle’s games against Crystal Palace and Aston Villa this week.
A huge thank you to everyone connected with Newcastle United and the wider football community for your messages and warm wishes. They have meant a lot to me and my family.
I also want to pay tribute to our incredible NHS and the hospital staff who have treated me. I’m immensely grateful for the specialist care I’m receiving and, after a period of recovery, I look forward to being back as soon as possible.
Team news
One change for Bournemouth, with Marcos Senesi replacing Illia Zabarnyi at centre-back. Fulham are unchanged, which is no surprise after their brilliant win over Liverpool last weekend.
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1) Kepa; Smith, Huijsen, Senesi, Kerkez; Cook, Adams; Semenyo, Scott, Dango; Evanilson.
Substitutes: Dennis, Brooks, Tavernier, Soler, Jebbison, Araujo, Hill, Zabarnyi, Winterburn.
Fulham (4-2-3-1) Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Sessegnon, Andreas, Iwobi; Muniz.
Substitutes: Benda, Tete, Cuenca, Reed, Cairney, Smith Rowe, Traore, Willian, Jimenez.
Referee Michael Oliver.
This is such an important night for Bournemouth, who have their last four league games at home. They were also beaten by Manchester City in the FA Cup. They have to get something tonight.
Preamble
Look, it’s complicated. It’s always complicated at this time of year. We’re talking, of course, about whether it’s acceptable for a weathered quadragenarian man to wear shorts in a public place European qualification. England will have between eight and 11 teams in Europe next season, and both Bournemouth and Fulham still hope to be among their number.
At this stage it looks more likely than not that eighth place will be good enough to quality for the Conference League. Despite a downturn in form, particularly for Bournemouth, that remains a realistic ambition for both these sides. Fulham start the night in eighth; Bournemouth will leapfrog them if they win.
The focus on the rich and famous makes it easy to lose sight of what a big deal it would be to qualify. Bournemouth have never played in Europe; the last time Fulham did so, in 2011, Martin Jol was their manager, Ryan Sessegnon was 11 years old and Willian wa- actually, Willian already a Brazil international, because he was playing top-level football before the electric light was invented. But you get the point.
Kick off 8pm.
