With Javier Manquillo dropping out of the side and Danny Rose ineligible to play against his parent club, Yedlin and Krafth come in as full backs as Steve Bruce again opts for a four-man defence. The duo will play either side of Federico Fernández and Fabian Schär, the latter dropping back from midfield to replace the injured Jamaal Lascelles.

Bentaleb, meanwhile, joins stand-in skipper Jonjo Shelvey in central midfield; like Yedlin, Bentaleb used to ply his trade with this evening’s visitors. Matt Ritchie and Allan Saint-Maximin start out wide, with Miguel Almirón playing just off Dwight Gayle up top.

Youngsters Jack Young and Tom Allan are both on the bench for the Magpies; the pair travelled to the Etihad Stadium for last week’s clash against Manchester City but neither were used.

Bruce will be hopeful of coming through tonight’s game without any further injury setbacks, particularly where his defenders are concerned, with Spaniard Manquillo United’s only out-and-out defender on the bench.

Newcastle United: Martin Dúbravka, DeAndre Yedlin, Fabian Schär, Federico Fernández, Emil Krafth, Matt Ritchie, Nabil Bentaleb, Jonjo Shelvey, Allan Saint-Maximin, Miguel Almirón, Dwight Gayle.

Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Javier Manquillo, Valentino Lazaro, Matty Longstaff, Jack Young, Christian Atsu, Tom Allan, Yoshinori Muto, Joelinton.