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Team News: KSC Lokeren v Newcastle
Written by Newcastle Utd
Rafa Benitez has made four changes to his United starting line-up for Saturday's friendly at KSC Lokeren
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
At the Daknamstadion
Rafa Benitez has made four changes to his Newcastle United starting line-up for Saturday's friendly at Belgian side KSC Lokeren.
Young full-back Jamie Sterry is handed another chance to impress, with Isaac Hayden, Ayoze Perez and Dwight Gayle also coming into the Magpies' side at the Daknamstadion.
The quartet replace Jonjo Shelvey, Adam Armstrong, Aleksandar Mitrovic and summer signing Matt Ritchie, who hasn't made the trip to Belgium after suffering some tightness in his groin.
United are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with goalkeeper Matz Sels - returning to his homeland - behind a back four of Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, captain-for-the-day Jamaal Lascelles and Sterry.
Hayden could join Vurnon Anita and Jack Colback in a three-man midfield, with a trio of Perez, Gayle and Rolando Aarons ahead of them in the final third.
On the substitutes' bench there are places for Shelvey, Armstrong and Mitrovic, and they are joined by Karl Darlow, Jesus Gamez, Paul Dummett, Cheick Tiote, Henri Saivet, Florian Thauvin and Yoan Gouffran.
KSC Lokeren: Davino Verhulst; Giorgos Galitsios, Maric Mijat, Joao Carlos, Ingi Sverrir Ingason; Ari Freyr Skulason, Joher Khadim Rassoul; Marko Miric, Killian Overmeire (c), Ayanda Patosi; Jackson Avelino Coelho
Substitutes: Copa Barry Boubacar, Mario Ticinovic, Ridwan Gyselinck, Branislav Ninaj, Medhi Terki, Nikola Jambor, Lowis Mbah Enoh
Newcastle United (4-3-3): Matz Sels; Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Jamaal Lascelles (c), Jamies Sterry; Vurnon Anita, Isaac Hayden, Jack Colback; Ayoze Perez, Dwight Gayle, Rolando Aarons
Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Jesus Gamez, Paul Dummett, Cheick Tiote, Jonjo Shelvey, Henri Saivet, Floiran Thauvin, Yoan Gouffran, Adam Armstrong, Aleksandar Mitrovic