Merino’s compatriot, Javier Manquillo – another recent recruit – is also on the bench, though there are starts for Florian Lejeune and Jacob Murphy.

Karl Darlow – who did not figure against Bradford City on Wednesday night – begins the game in goal, with DeAndre Yedlin, Ciaran Clark and Paul Dummett keeping their places in the backline.

There are two changes in central midfield, where Jack Colback and Mohamed Diamé come in for Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey, while Siem de Jong replaces Ayozé Perez in the No. 10 role.

Up front, Aleksandar Mitrovic – who netted against the Bantams and at Preston North End last Saturday – starts in place of Dwight Gayle.

Newcastle United: Karl Darlow, Ciaran Clark, Jack Colback, Jacob Murphy, Mohamed Diamé, Matt Ritchie, Paul Dummett, Siem de Jong, Florian Lejeune, DeAndre Yedlin, Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Substitutes: Freddie Woodman, Jonjo Shelvey, Dwight Gayle, Isaac Hayden, Rolando Aarons, Chancel Mbemba, Ayoze Pérez, Jesús Gámez, Javier Manquillo, Christian Atsu, Mikel Merino.