Thiaw the centre of attention for fans in Brussels

NEWCASTLE defender Malick Thiaw shone on the Champions League stage on Wednesday night to leave Eddie Howe with a major selection headache.

- By LEE RYDER

As United's players went over to applaud the fans at the end of the game, Thiaw's name was chanted into the mild Brussels air.

And skipper Bruno Guimaraes was determined for the centre-back to make the most of it, so he shoved the ex-AC Milan defender to the front to milk the applause.

The 24-year-old put in an immaculate performance against Union SG after being named alongside Sven Botman in an opening lineup that featured a back four.

That meant Dan Burn was slotted in at left-back as Eddie Howe looks for ways to accommodate the 6ft 7in England international.

With Botman getting back to his best, Howe is going to find it increasingly difficult to give Fabian Schar minutes, while Burn's position, if Newcastle go with a back four, is also a question that will have to be answered.