Almirón hasn’t started for Newcastle since December’s 4-0 defeat to Man City at St. James’ Park – the last time Eddie Howe’s side lost a Premier League game.

With Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Willock both missing through illness, though, boss Howe has had to shuffle his pack somewhat for today’s clash, with Jamaal Lascelles, Javier Manquillo and Sean Longstaff all coming into the side, too.

Lascelles joins Fabian Schär and Dan Burn in the heart of the Magpies’ backline – the first time he has started with Burn – while Manquillo starts on the right, with Matt Targett on the left.

Longstaff joins Bruno Guimarães in central midfield, while Almirón and Jacob Murphy will be looking to support lone frontman Chris Wood, who opened his account for United at Southampton on Thursday.

Emil Krafth and Ryan Fraser, who both started the Magpies’ midweek victory, are on the bench at Stamford Bridge, where they are joined by the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin and a fit-again Matt Ritchie.

Newcastle United: Martin Dúbravka, Javier Manquillo, Jamaal Lascelles, Fabian Schär, Dan Burn, Matt Targett, Jacob Murphy, Bruno Guimarães, Sean Longstaff, Miguel Almirón, Chris Wood.

Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Mark Gillespie, Emil Krafth, Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie, Lucas de Bolle, Ryan Fraser, Allan Saint-Maximin, Dwight Gayle.