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Newcastle v Aston Villa: Four Changes
Written by Newcastle Utd
John Carver has made four changes to his starting line-up, as United entertain Aston Villa
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
At St. James' Park
Head coach John Carver has made four changes to his starting line-up, as Newcastle United entertain Aston Villa in the Barclays Premier League (3pm kick-off).
The Magpies suffered a 5-0 defeat at champions Manchester City last weekend, and Carver has shuffled his pack, recalling wingers Gabriel Obertan and Sammy Ameobi, midfielder Mehdi Abeid and striker Emmanuel Riviere.
The quartet replace Vurnon Anita, Yoan Gouffran and Ayoze Perez, who drop down to the substitutes' bench, while Jack Colback serves the first match of a two-game suspension.
United are expected to line-up in a 4-4-2 formation, with goalkeeper Tim Krul behind an unchanged back four of Daryl Janmaat, Mike Williamson, captain Fabricio Coloccini and Massadio Haidara.
Abeid will be partnered in the middle of the park by French powerhouse Moussa Sissoko, with Obertan and Ameobi taking up roles on either flank.
And in the final third, Riviere will be joined by ten-goal leading scorer Papiss Cisse.
Joining Anita, Gouffran and Perez on the bench, there is a welcome return for Jonas Gutierrez, who has not kicked a ball for Newcastle's first team since October 2013 and has recently overcome testicular cancer.
Newcastle United (4-4-2): Tim Krul; Daryl Janmaat, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Massadio Haidara; Gabriel Obertan, Moussa Sissoko, Mehdi Abeid, Sammy Ameobi; Emmanuel Riviere, Papiss Cisse
Substitutes: Freddie Woodman, Ryan Taylor, Vurnon Anita, Jonas Gutierrez, Yoan Gouffran, Adam Armstrong, Ayoze Perez
Aston Villa (4-3-3): Brad Guzan; Alan Hutton, Jores Okore, Ciaran Clark, Matt Lowton; Tom Cleverley, Ashley Westwood, Fabian Delph; Scott Sinclair, Christian Benteke, Gabriel Agbonlahor
Substitutes: Shay Given, Leandro Bacuna, Carlos Sanchez, Carles Gil, Jack Grealish, Charles N'Zogbia, Andreas Weimann
Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)