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).”
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Hide AdThe 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.