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Stoke v Newcastle: Four Changes
Written by Newcastle Utd
Steve McClaren has made four changes to his United starting line-up for Wednesday's clash at Stoke
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
At the Britannia Stadium
Steve McClaren has made four changes to his Newcastle United starting line-up for Wednesday's Barclays Premier League clash at Stoke City (7.45pm kick-off).
The Magpies went down 5-1 at Chelsea in their last top flight fixture 18 days ago, and it is a different-looking side which will take to the pitch at the Britannia Stadium.
Defenders Paul Dummett and Jamaal Lascelles, midfielder Jack Colback and forward Yoan Gouffran return to the United team.
They replace Andros Townsend, who has a minor hamstring strain which McClaren did not want to risk, captain Fabricio Coloccini, who is nursing a calf strain, Cheick Tiote and Rolando Aarons.
Newcastle are expected to start in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper Rob Elliot behind a back four of Daryl Janmaat, Steven Taylor, Lascelles and Dummett.
Jonjo Shelvey takes on the captain's armband in Coloccini's absence and will anchor the visitors' midfield alongside Colback.
In front of them, a trio of Moussa Sissoko, nine-goal leading scorer Georginio Wijnaldum and Gouffran will be tasked with supplying the ammunition for Serbian international striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has five goals to his name this term.
Joining Aarons on an attack-minded substitutes' bench there are places for Seydou Doumbia, Emmanuel Riviere, Ayoze Perez, Henri Saivet, Jamie Sterry and Karl Darlow.
Stoke City (4-2-3-1): Jack Butland; Phil Bardsley, Geoff Cameron, Philipp Wollscheid, Erik Pieters; Glenn Whelan (c), Giannelli Imbula; Xherdan Shaqiri, Ibrahim Afellay, Marko Arnautovic; Jonathan Walters
Substitutes: Jakob Haugaard, Marc Muniesa, Stephen Ireland, Bojan, Joselu, Mame Biram Diouf, Peter Crouch
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Rob Elliot; Daryl Janmaat, Steven Taylor, Jamaal Lascelles, Paul Dummett; Jonjo Shelvey (c), Jack Colback; Moussa Sissoko, Georginio Wijnaldum, Yoan Gouffran; Aleksandar Mitrovic
Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Jamie Sterry, Henri Saivet, Rolando Aarons, Ayoze Perez, Emmanuel Riviere, Seydou Doumbia
Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)