Joelinton DROPPED from Newcastle United starting XI by Steve Bruce

Bruce’s side take on Southampton looking for their Premier League first win since January 18 – and Joelinton is on the bench along with Valentino Lazaro and Nabil Bentaleb. Dwight Gayle – who started against Burnley last weekend – will lead the line at the St Mary’s Stadium.

Newcastle are 14th in the division and five points above the relegation zone following a run of one win from 10 league games.

Bruce, again without injured striker Andy Carroll, has made six changes to the team which beat West Bromwich Albion in a fifth-round FA Cup tie on Tuesday night. Gayle, Martin Dubravka, Federico Fernandez, Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie return to the starting XI.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Dubravka, Manquillo, Fernandez, Lascelles, Rose, Hayden, Shelvey, Ritchie, Almiron, Saint-Maximin, Gayle. Subs: Darlow, Schar, Joelinton, Yedlin, Lazaro, S Longstaff, Bentaleb.