Newcastle v Wolves: Three Changes

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

At St. James' Park

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

The Magpies won 6-0 at Queens Park Rangers in midweek, but that hasn't stopped boss Benitez from shuffling his pack again, as United go in search of a seventh consecutive victory in all competitions.

Defender Chancel Mbemba, midfielder Mohamed Diame and four-goal leading scorer Dwight Gayle return to the side, with Ciaran Clark, Yoan Gouffran and Aleksandar Mitrovic all dropping 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, Mbemba, captain Jamaal Lascelles and Paul Dummett.

Isaac Hayden and Jonjo Shelvey - who scored twice at QPR - will anchor the hosts' midfield, with a trio of Matt Ritchie, Diame and Ayoze Perez in front of them.

And they will be tasked with supplying the ammunition for summer signing Gayle, who has hit the ground running on Tyneside.

Joining Clark, Gouffran and Mitrovic on the substitutes' bench are Christian Atsu, Jack Colback, DeAndre Yedlin and Karl Darlow.

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Matz Sels; Vurnon Anita, Chancel Mbemba, Jamaal Lascelles (c), Paul Dummett; Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey; Matt Ritchie, Mohamed Diame, Ayoze Perez; Dwight Gayle

Substitutes: Karl Darlow, DeAndre Yedlin, Ciaran Clark, Jack Colback, Christian Atsu, Yoan Gouffran, Aleksandar Mitrovic

Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-3-3): Carl Ikeme; Matt Doherty, Dominic Iorfa, Danny Batth (c), Cameron Borthwick-Jackson; Prince Oniangue, Dave Edwards, Romain Saiss; Helder Costa, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Joao Teixeira

Substitutes: Andy Lonergan, Kortney Hause, Conor Coady, George Saville, Paul Gladon, Ivan Cavaleiro, Joe Mason