Newcastle United’s leading goalscorer Callum Wilson has been restored to the starting line-up for the Magpies’ Premier League clash with Manchester City on Sunday afternoon (2pm kick-off).
Wilson had been named among the substitutes for Thursday night’s 3-1 defeat at Liverpool, but is restored to the starting line-up to face the reigning champions at St. James’ Park, with Miguel Almirón, Joe Willock, Ciaran Clark and Matt Ritchie also included in the starting 11 by head coach Eddie Howe.
Ritchie replaces the injured Jamal Lewis, with Almirón replacing Javier Manquillo, who misses out with a non-Covid related illness.
Midfielder Willock, meanwhile, replaces the injured Jonjo Shelvey, while defender Clark comes into the back four in a like-for-like swap with Fabian Schär.
Martin Dúbravka continues in goal, with Jacob Murphy and Ritchie as full backs and Clark partnering Jamaal Lascelles in the heart of defence.
Isaac Hayden will anchor the midfield, with Joelinton and Willock either side of the former Arsenal man and Ryan Fraser and Almirón providing attacking support for Wilson.
There are a couple of youngsters named on the bench for United, with Elliot Anderson and Joe White hoping to make their first senior appearances at St. James’ Park.
Allan Saint-Maximin and Dwight Gayle are the two main attacking options among the substitutes, with Sean Longstaff and Jeff Hendrick the other midfield reinforcements alongside Anderson and White.
And Emil Krafth and Schär are also named on the bench, with Karl Darlow providing goalkeeping backup.
Newcastle United: Martin Dúbravka; Jacob Murphy, Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark, Matt Ritchie; Joe Willock, Isaac Hayden, Joelinton; Miguel Almirón, Callum Wilson, Ryan Fraser.
Substitutes: Karl Darlow, Emil Krafth, Fabian Schär, Jeff Hendrick, Sean Longstaff, Joe White, Elliot Anderson, Allan Saint-Maximin, Dwight Gayle