Bristol City v Newcastle: Three Changes

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

At Ashton Gate

Rafa Benitez has made three changes to his Newcastle United starting line-up for Saturday's Sky Bet Championship fixture at Bristol City (3pm kick-off).

The Magpies picked up their first victory of the season in midweek with an emphatic 4-1 home triumph over Reading, but the boss has shuffled his pack once more as United look for a first away win since December.

Captain Jamaal Lascelles and midfielders Jack Colback and Mohamed Diame return to the side at Ashton Gate.

The trio replace Paul Dummett, Jonjo Shelvey and Ayoze Perez, who all drop down to the substitutes' bench.

Newcastle are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Belgian goalkeeper Matz Sels behind a back four of Vurnon Anita, Chancel Mbemba, skipper Jascelles and Ciaran Clark.

Colback will join Isaac Hayden in patrolling the middle of the park, with a trio of Matt Ritchie, Diame and Yoan Gouffran in front of them.

And they will be tasked with supplying the ammunition for striker Dwight Gayle, who has three goals from his last two appearances.

Joining Dummett, Shelvey and Perez among the replacements are Rolando Aarons, Grant Hanley, Jamie Sterry and Karl Darlow.

Bristol City (4-2-3-1): Richard O'Donnell; Adam Matthews, Aden Flint, Hordur Magnusson, Scott Golbourne; Bobby Reid, Gary O'Neil (c); Jonathan Kodija, Lee Tomlin, Luke Freeman; Tammy Abraham

Substitutes: Max O'Leary, Mark Little, Derrick Williams, Marlon Pack, Josh Brownhill, Callum O'Dowda, Aaron Wilbraham

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Matz Sels; Vurnon Anita, Chancel Mbemba, Jamaal Lascelles (c) Ciaran Clark; Isaac Hayden, Jack Colback; Matt Ritchie, Mohamed Diame, Yoan Gouffran; Dwight Gayle

Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Jamie Sterry, Paul Dummett, Grant Hanley, Jonjo Shelvey, Rolando Aarons, Ayoze Perez

Referee: Tony Harrington (Teesside)