Dwight Gayle returns to Newcastle's starting XI as Henri Lansbury lines up for Villa

Rafa Benitez has named his starting XI for tonight's home game against Aston Villa.
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Second-placed Newcastle United take on Steve Bruce's struggling side in a televised Championship fixture (8pm kick-off).

Fit-again Dwight Gayle makes his first start in more than a month at the expense of Aleksandar Mitrovic, who is among the substitutes.

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Henri Lansbury, involved in the incidents which saw Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett dismissed in December, is in the visiting team.

A win would take them above league leaders Brighton and Hove Albion, who beat Barnsley at the weekend.

There will be a Gallowgate Flags display before the game.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Colback, Shelvey; Ritchie, Diame, Gouffran; Gayle. Subs: Elliot, Hanley, Lazaar, Perez, Gamez, Atsu, Mitrovic.

ASTON VILLA: Johnstone, Hutton, Elphick, Chester, Taylor, Jedinak, Hourihane, Lansbury, Bjarnason, Kodjia, Hogan. Subs: Bunn, Baker, Bacuna, Gardner, Amavi, Adomah, Grealish.