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Team news: Debut for Bentaleb
Written by Rory Mitchinson
New signing Nabil Bentaleb has been handed his Newcastle United debut as the Magpies take on Oxford United in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup.
Bentaleb – who arrived at St. James’ Park on loan from Schalke 04 earlier this week – joins Sean Longstaff in Newcastle’s engine room as Steve Bruce names another strong starting XI.
DeAndre Yedlin, Fabian Schär and Allan Saint-Maximin – none of whom kicked off Tuesday’s dramatic Premier League draw at Everton – all return to United’s line-up as the Magpies bid to reach the Fifth Round of the competition for the first time since 2006.
Frenchman Saint-Maximin forms part of an attacking triumvirate, alongside Miguel Almirón and Joelinton, while Yedlin and Schär join captain Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark and Matt Ritchie in a five-man backline.
As he did in United’s Third Round replay win over Rochdale, Karl Darlow starts between the posts at St. James’, while Bentaleb’s fellow new recruit, wide-man Valentino Lazaro, will have to settle for a watching brief as he wasn’t registered in time to feature against the U’s.
Federico Fernández, Isaac Hayden and Christian Atsu are all among Newcastle’s substitutes, as are young pair Tom Allan and Elias Sørensen.
Newcastle United: Karl Darlow, DeAndre Yedlin, Fabian Schär, Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark, Matt Ritchie, Nabil Bentaleb, Sean Longstaff, Allan Saint-Maximin, Miguel Almirón, Joelinton.
Substitutes: Rob Elliot, Federico Fernández, Isaac Hayden, Matty Longstaff, Christian Atsu, Tom Allan, Elias Sørensen.