Team News: Doncaster v Newcastle

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

At the Keepmoat Stadium

Rafa Benitez has made three changes to his starting line-up for Newcastle United's pre-season friendly at Doncaster Rovers (7.45pm kick-off).

The Magpies were 6-0 winners over Bohemian in their first warm-up game of the summer at the weekend, and so boss Benitez has kept faith with the majority of those players who started at Dalymount Park, in Dublin.

The only alterations see Adam Armstrong, Daryl Janmaat and Jonjo Shelvey replace Yoan Gouffran, Jamie Sterry and Henri Saivet.

United are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with goalkeeper Matz Sels behind a back four of Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, captain-for-the-night Jamaal Lascelles and Vurnon Anita.

Shelvey and Jack Colback will anchor the visitors' midfield at the Keepmoat Stadium, with Matt Ritchie, Armstrong and Rolando Aarons ahead of them.

And they will be tasked with supplying the ammunition for Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who netted a penalty in Saturday's victory.

Benitez has named 12 substitutes, and joining Gouffran, Sterry and Saivet on the bench are Karl Darlow, Jesus Gamez, Paul Dummett, Isaac Hayden, Cheick Tiote, Georginio Wijnaldum, Florian Thauvin, Ayoze Perez and Dwight Gayle.

Doncaster Rovers (3-5-2): Ross Etheridge; Craig Alcock, Joe Wright, Andy Butler; Matty Blair, Harry Middleton, James Coppinger, Tommy Rowe, Cedric Evina; John Marquis, Andy Williams

Substitutes: Marko Marosi, Tyler Garratt, Mitchell Lund, Will Longbottom, Riccardo Calder, Reece Fielding, Joey McCormick, A Trialist

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Matz Sels; Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Jamaal Lascelles (c), Vurnon Anita; Jonjo Shelvey, Jack Colback; Matt Ritchie, Adam Armstrong, Rolando Aarons; Aleksandar Mitrovic

Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Jamie Sterry, Jesus Gamez, Paul Dummett, Isaac Hayden, Cheick Tiote, Henri Saivet, Georginio Wijnaldum, Yoan Gouffran, Florian Thauvin, Ayoze Perez, Dwight Gayle

Referee: Ross Joyce