Rafa Benitez has made three changes to his side for the visit of Derby County on Saturday (3pm kick-off).

Centre back Grant Hanley comes in for captain Jamaal Lascelles, Mohamed Diame replaces Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic will lead the line in place of Daryl Murphy.

Karl Darlow continues in goal, with DeAndre Yedlin, Hanley, Ciaran Clark and Paul Dummett making up the back four.

One of the goalscorers in the 2-2 midweek draw with QPR, Matt Ritchie, starts on the right-hand side of midfield, with Isaac Hayden and stand-in skipper Jonjo Shelvey occupying the engine room and Yoan Gouffran wide on the left.

And Diame, back from African Cup of Nations duty with Senegal, plays just behind lone frontman Mitrovic.

Goalkeeper Rob Elliot returns to the bench, with Lascelles, Jesus Gamez and Achraf Lazaar providing defensive cover.

And Sammy Ameobi, Perez and Murphy complete the list of reinforcements, should Benitez require them.

Newcastle United (4-4-1-1): Karl Darlow; DeAndre Yedlin, Grant Hanley, Ciaran Clark, Paul Dummett; Matt Ritchie, Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey (c), Yoan Gouffran; Mo Diame, Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Substitutes: Rob Elliot, Jesus Gamez, Achraf Lazaar, Sammy Ameobi, Ayoze Perez, Daryl Murphy.