Newcastle United host Birmingham City in the FA Cup this evening…
Newcastle United line-up: Sels, Lazaar, Hanley, Findlay, Yedlin, Ritchie, Shelvey, Barlaser, Tiote, El-Mhanni, Gouffran.
Newcastle United substitutes: Elliot, Dummett, Lascelles, Colback, Hayden, Perez, Murphy
Birmingham City line-up: Legzdins; Dacres-Cogley, Shotton, Robinson, Grounds; Kieftenbeld, Tesche, Davis; Cotterill, Adams, Solomon-Otabor.
Birmingham City substitutes: Kuszczak, Gleeson, Fabbrini, Jutkiewicz, Brown, Spector, Morrison.
The Magpies drew 1-1 at St. Andrews earlier this month, and a place in the Fourth Round is up for grabs as the two sides meet again this evening, this time at St. James’ Park.
After Saturday’s 2-1 win away at Brentford, manager Rafael Benitez has decided to rotate many of his squad tonight, with a host of youngsters given a chance to play.
Stuart Findlay, Daniel Barlaser and Yasin Ben Al-Mhanni are all handed their debuts in an experimental side, whilst out-of-favour midfielder Cheick Tiote is handed a rare start in midfield.
Matz Sels returns in goal, replacing Karl Darlow, whilst there are starts for regular first-teamers such as Jonjo Shelvey, Matt Ritchie and Yoan Gouffran.
Benitez has a number of big-name players on the bench, with Paul Dummett, Jamaal Lascelles, Jack Colback, Isaac Hayden, Ayoze Perez and Daryl Murphy all named as substitutes.
Meanwhile, Birmingham have also handed starts to youngsters, with Josh Dacres-Cogley, Vic Solomon-Otabor and Che Adams all in Gianfranco Zola’s line-up.
Zola has though gone with experience elsewhere, with Ryan Shotton, Paul Robinson, Jonathan Grounds, David Davis and David Cotterill all starting.
The likes of Stephen Gleeson, Diego Fabbrini, Lukas Jutkiewciz, Jonathan Spector and Michael Morrison are all on the bench tonight, with the two sides going for heavy rotation this evening.
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