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Leicester v Newcastle: Benitez's Bow
Written by Newcastle Utd
Rafa Benitez has named his first Newcastle side and has made two changes to the Magpies' starting line-up
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
At the King Power Stadium
Rafa Benitez has named his first Newcastle United side and has made two changes to the Magpies' starting line-up as they travel to Barclays Premier League leaders Leicester City (8pm kick-off).
The former Real Madrid manager has only been in charge of United for four days but has wasted little time in making his mark on team selection, recalling Vurnon Anita and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
The pair replace Paul Dummett, who is ruled out through injury, and Emmanuel Riviere, who drops down to the substitutes' bench.
Newcastle are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper Rob Elliot behind a back four of Daryl Janmaat, Steven Taylor, Jamaal Lascelles and Jack Colback.
Anita will join stand-in captain Jonjo Shelvey in the middle of the park, operating just behind a trio of Moussa Sissoko, nine-goal leading scorer Georginio Wijnaldum and Spanish forward Ayoze Perez.
And they will be tasked with supplying the ammunition for Serbian international Mitrovic, who has five goals to his name so far this term.
Alongside Riviere on the substitutes' bench there is a return for Siem de Jong following a serious eye injury, and they are joined by fit-again Andros Townsend, Seydou Doumbia, Henri Saivet, Jamie Sterry and Karl Darlow.
Leicester City (4-4-2): Kasper Schmeichel; Danny Simpson, Robert Huth, Wes Morgan (c), Christian Fuchs; Marc Albrighton, N'Golo Kante, Danny Drinkwater, Riyad Mahrez; Shinji Okazaki, Jamie Vardy
Substitutes: Mark Schwarzer, Daniel Amartey, Marcin Wasilewski, Gokhan Inler, Jeffrey Schlupp, Demarai Gray, Leonardo Ulloa
Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Rob Elliot; Daryl Janmaat, Steven Taylor, Jamaal Lascelles, Jack Colback; Vurnon Anita, Jonjo Shelvey (c); Moussa Sissoko, Georginio Wijnaldum, Ayoze Perez; Aleksandar Mitrovic
Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Jamie Sterry, Henri Saivet, Siem de Jong, Andros Townsend, Emmanuel Riviere, Seydou Doumbia
Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)