Dec 17, 2016 at 3pm UK at ​Pirelli Stadium
Burton Albion
1-2
NewcastleNewcastle United
Dyer (20')
Naylor (19'), Irvine (45')
FT(HT: 1-2)
Gayle (15'), Diame (34')
Hayden (56')

Team News: Christian Atsu earns Newcastle United start

Porto's Ghanaian forward Christian Atsu celebrates after scoring during the Portuguese league football match Beira Mar vs Porto at the Municipal Stadium in Aveiro on February 15, 2013
© Getty Images
Christian Atsu starts for Championship leaders Newcastle United for their trip to Burton Albion.

Christian Atsu has been handed a start for Championship leaders Newcastle United for their trip to Burton Albion this afternoon.

The Chelsea loanee has forced his way into Rafael Benitez's starting XI after coming off the bench to score in the Magpies' 2-0 victory at Wigan Athletic in midweek.

Yoan Gouffran drops to the bench as Atsu slots into a four-man midfield, with Mohamed Diame and Dwight Gayle continuing up front.

One other change sees DeAndre Yedlin replace Vurnon Anita in the back four.

The game comes too soon for Jack Colback, who has been out for a month with an eye problem, while striker Ayoze Perez is made to start among the substitutes.

For the hosts, Nigel Clough makes two changes to the side that suffered a 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield Town last time out.

Midfielder John Mousinho and wing-back Lucas Akins earn the nod to start, with Hamza Choudhury and Jamie Ward dropping to the bench.

Kyle McFadzean is passed fit to start despite cutting his leg in the game against the Terriers, while Ben Turner serves out the last game of his two-match suspension.

Burton Albion: McLaughlin; Brayford, McFadzean, McCrory; Mousinho, Akins, Naylor, Dyer, Palmer, Irvine, O'Grady
Subs: Bywater, Flanagan, Williamson, Ward, Miller, Choudhury, Harness

Newcastle United: Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden, Atsu; Diame, Gayle
Subs: Sels, Anita, Lazaar, Mbemba, Gouffran, Perez, Mitrovic

Rafael Benitez poses with his manager of the month award for November 2016 - EMBARGOES UNTIL NOVEMBER 11
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton27186343182560
2Newcastle UnitedNewcastle27191754213358
3Leeds UnitedLeeds28163939271251
4Reading2715483936349
5Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2715483230249
6Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2713683126545
7Derby CountyDerby2712782721643
8Barnsley27125104641541
9Fulham271010744321240
10Norwich CityNorwich27124114540540
11Preston North EndPreston2711793734340
12Birmingham CityBirmingham2791083136-537
13Aston Villa2781272827136
14Ipswich TownIpswich2797112833-534
15Brentford2796123435-133
16Cardiff CityCardiff2796123141-1033
17Queens Park RangersQPR2796122637-1133
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2788113437-332
19Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2886143847-930
20Bristol City2783163539-427
21Wigan AthleticWigan2767142432-825
22Burton Albion2767142637-1125
23Blackburn RoversBlackburn2767143244-1225
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham2744192760-3316