Newcastle v Southampton: Debuts For Duo

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

At St. James' Park

Georginio Wijnaldum and Chancel Mbemba will make their competitive debuts as Newcastle United kick-off their 2015/16 Barclays Premier League campaign at home against Southampton (1.30pm kick-off).

The duo arrived in the summer from PSV Eindhoven and Anderlecht respectively, and new head coach Steve McClaren has opted to start them as the Saints come to St. James' Park.

The Magpies' third new boy - Serbian international striker Aleksandar Mitrovic - takes up a place on the substitutes' bench.

United are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with goalkeeper Tim Krul behind a back four of Daryl Janmaat, Mbemba, captain Fabricio Coloccini and Massadio Haidara.

Vurnon Anita and Jack Colback will anchor the hosts' midfield, with a trio of Moussa Sissoko, Wijnaldum and Gabriel Obertan ahead of them.

And they will be tasked with supplying the ammunition for Senegalese hot shot Cisse, who finished last season as Newcastle's top scorer with 11 goals.

Joining Mitrovic on a strong, attack-minded substitutes' bench, there are places for Ayoze Perez, Rolando Aarons, Siem de Jong, Cheick Tiote, Steven Taylor and goalkeeper Karl Darlow.

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Tim Krul; Daryl Janmaat, Chanel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Massadio Haidara; Vurnon Anita, Jack Colback; Moussa Sissoko, Georginio Wijnaldum, Gabriel Obertan; Papiss Cisse

Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Steven Taylor, Cheick Tiote, Siem de Jong, Rolando Aarons, Ayoze Perez, Aleksandar Mitrovic

Southampton (4-2-3-1): Maarten Stekelenburg; Cedric Soares, Jose Fonte (c),Maya Yoshida, Matt Targett; Victor Wanyama, Steven Davis; Sadio Mane, Jay Rodriguez, Dusan Tadic; Graziano Pelle

Substitutes: Paulo Gazzaniga, Cuco Martina, Steven Caulker, James Ward-Prowse, Harrison Reed, Juanmi, Shane Long

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)