Portland Timbers 2 v Newcastle: Team News

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

At Providence Park, Portland

Steve McClaren has made a raft of changes to his Newcastle United starting line-up for the third and final game of their pre-season tour of America, against Portland Timbers 2 (7.30pm kick-off local time).

Eight of the team start their first match of the Stateside trip, including new signing Georginio Wijnaldum, who arrived from PSV Eindhoven earlier this month.

The Magpies are expected to line-up in a 4-2-3-1 formation at Providence Park, with goalkeeper Karl Darlow behind a unorthodox back four of Gael Bigirimana, Lubomir Satka, Shane Ferguson and Rolando Aarons.

Mehdi Abeid and Dutch international Wijnaldum will anchor the visitors' midfield, with captain-for-the-night Moussa Sissoko, Ayoze Perez and Yoan Gouffran just ahead of them.

And they will be tasked with supplying the ammunition for Papiss Cisse, who leads the line again for United.

Due to the match being played on an artificial surface, a number of players are unable to be selected, and it has left Newcastle with a six-man substitutes' bench consisting of Adam Armstrong, Siem de Jong, Gabriel Obertan, Vurnon Anita, Daryl Janmaat and Freddie Woodman.

Portland Timbers 2 (4-5-1): Jake Gleeson; Taylor Peay, Rennico Clarke, Anthony Manning, Andy Thoma; Jeanderson, Michael Nanchoff (c), George Fochive, Nick Besler, Fatawu; Kharlton Belmar

Substitutes: Justin Luthy, Harrison Delbridge, Matt Rose, Santiago Biglieri, Seth Casiple, Steven Evans, Blair Gavin, Tim Payne, Rundell Winchester

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Karl Darlow; Gael Bigirimana, Lubomir Satka, Shane Ferguson, Rolando Aarons; Mehdi Abeid, Georginio Wijnaldum; Moussa Sissoko (c), Ayoze Perez, Yoan Gouffran; Papiss Cisse

Substitutes: Freddie Woodman, Daryl Janmaat, Vurnon Anita, Siem de Jong, Gabriel Obertan, Adam Armstrong

Referee: Levi Rippy