Steve Bruce makes FIVE changes as Matt Ritchie returns for Newcastle United

Steve Bruce has made five changes for Newcastle United’s FA Cup tie against Rochdale.
Steve Bruce arrives at Spotland.Steve Bruce arrives at Spotland.
Steve Bruce arrives at Spotland.

Bruce has brought DeAndre Yedlin, Emil Krafth, Christian Atsu, Matty Longstaff and Sean Longstaff into his starting XI for the third-round tie at Spotland.

Newcastle’s injury list, which lengthened after the 3-0 Premier League defeat to Leicester City at St James’s Park, runs into double figures.

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And head coach Bruce – who has left Florian Lejeune on the bench after the fit-again defender played four games in 11 days over the festive period – has named, more or less, the strongest XI available to him against the League One club. Meanwhile, Matt Ritchie, sidelined since August with an ankle injury, is among the sustitutes.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Dubravka; Yedlin, Krafth, Hayden, Fernandez, Atsu; M Longstaff, S Longstaff, Almiron, Muto; Joelinton. Subs: Darlow, Sung-yueng, Ritchie, Lejuene, Cass, Sorensen, Allan.