Newcastle United will be looking for three points at home to Queens Park Rangers today, but manager Alan Pardew has decided to only give mercurial Frenchman Hatem Ben Arfa a place on the bench.
Leon Best and Shola Ameobi have been given the nod up top, while Danny Guthrie replaces Cheik Tiote, who is on international duty with Ivory Coast, in central midfield.
Newcastle’s team in full is:
Krul; Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon; Taylor, Guthrie, Cabaye, Gutierrez; Best, Ameobi.
Subs: Elliot, Ferguson, Perch, Gosling, Abeid, Obertan, Ben Arfa.
QPR’s starting eleven is:
Kenny, Hill, Derry, Gabbidon, Bothroyd, Mackie, Buzsaky, Young, Helguson, Wright-Phillips, Ferdinand.
A win would take Newcastle above Liverpool into 6th place in the Premier League table, but new QPR manager Mark Hughes will be aiming to get his tenure with the west London club off to a good start at St James’ Park.
