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Newcastle v Club Brugge: Nine Changes
Written by Newcastle Utd
Sammy Ameobi, Shane Ferguson, Cheick Tiote and Papiss Cisse are among the starters for Newcastle against Brugge
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Club Reporter
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew has made nine changes for Thursday's Europa League Group D home game against Club Brugge (8.05pm kick-off)
The only survivors from Sunday's Tyne-Wear derby draw at Sunderland are full-back Davide Santon and midfielder Cheick Tiote - who was sent off at the Stadium of Light.
However, Tiote's three-match suspension is only for domestic fixtures so, as already revealed by Pardew, the Ivorian enforcer starts in the heart of the Magpies' midfield.
United will line-up in a 4-3-3 formation for the first game back at St. James' Park, which has returned to its old name thanks to new Club sponsor Wonga.
Veteran goalkeeper Steve Harper has been given the nod in between the sticks and will be protected by a back four of Santon - who shifts to right-back - James Perch, captain for the night Steven Taylor and Shane Ferguson.
In front of them is a midfield trio of Tiote, summer signing Vurnon Anita and Gael Bigirimana, and providing creativity and firepower in the final third will be Gabriel Obertan, Papiss Cisse and Sammy Ameobi, with the latter making his first start and only his second appearance of the season.
On the substitutes' bench there are places for the experience of Tim Krul, Fabricio Coloccini, Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa, Demba Ba and Shola Ameobi, while there is youth in the shape of 17-year-old Adam Campbell.
Newcastle United (4-3-3): Steve Harper; Davide Santon, Steven Taylor (c), James Perch, Shane Ferguson; Gael Bigirimana, Cheick Tiote, Vurnon Anita; Gabriel Obertan, Papiss Cisse, Sammy Ameobi
Substitutes: Tim Krul, Fabricio Coloccini, Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa, Adam Campbell, Shola Ameobi, Demba Ba
Club Brugge (4-3-3): Bojan Jorgacevic; Tom Hogli, Carl Hoefkens (c), Jordi, Bart Buysse; Vadis Odjidja, Jonathan Blondel, Jesper Jorgensen; Lior Refaelov, Carlos Bacca, Maxime Lestienne
Substitutes: Vladan Kujovic, Jannes Vansteenkiste, Bjorn Engels, Victor Vazquez, Thibaut van Acker, Ivan Trickovski, Bjorn Vleminckx
Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden)