Nabil Bentaleb starts for Newcastle United as Steve Bruce names strong FA Cup side

Newcastle United take on Oxford United at a sold-out St James’s Park in a fourth-round tie (3pm kick-off). and head coach Steve Bruce has handed new signing Bentaleb, signed on loan from Schalke 04 this week, a start.

Bruce said: “He's a good player. All this week has been where is he in terms of fitness levels? Excellent in all of it, so there's not even a question mark to say he's not going to play, because his fitness levels are fantastic considering he hasn't played (for Schalke since last April).”

The club last reached the fifth round in 2006. Oxford will be backed by 3,700 fans.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Darlow, Yedlin, Schar, Lascelles, Clark, Ritchie, S Longstaff, Bentaleb, Almiron, Saint-Maximin, Joelinton. Subs: Elliot, Hayden, Fernandez, Atsu, M Longstaff, Sorensen, Allan.