Aleksandar Mitrovic left OUT of Newcastle's matchday squad for Blackburn
Benitez's side take on Blackburn Rovers in a Championship fixture (3pm kick-off).
United's manager has left striker Mitrovic behind on Tyneside and instead brought Daryl Murphy with him to Lancashire.
Murphy is on the bench for the Championship leaders.
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Hide AdVurnon Anita, Yoan Gouffran and Mohamed Diame have been recalled to Benitez's starting XI.
Ayoze Perez, DeAndre Yedlin and Christian Atsu drop down to the bench.
Newcastle are a point ahead of second-placed Brighton and Hove Albion in the league table.
NEWCASTLE UNITED: Darlow; Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Hayden, Colback; Ritchie, Diame, Gouffran; Gayle. Subs: Sels, Yedlin, Lazaar, Mbemba, Atsu, Perez, Murphy.
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