Steve Bruce makes SHOCK changes to his Newcastle United starting XI

Longstaff scored on his Premier League debut against Manchester United in October.

And the 19-year-old midfielder has been recalled to the team along with his elder brother Sean, who was a target for Manchester United in the summer. Dwight Gayle and Jetro Willems also come into the starting XI for this evening’s televised fixture (5.30pm kick-off).

Andy Carroll, Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden drop down to the bench ahead of Saturday’s home game against Everton, while Paul Dummett misses out because of a groin injury.

Willems has recovered from the knee problem which saw him miss last weekend’s 1-0 win over Palace at St James’s Park, while Gayle last started a league game for Newcastle in May last year.

Newcastle’s players were given Christmas Day off by head coach Steve Bruce, who won three league titles during his time as a player at Old Trafford.

“They’ll enjoy their Xmas morning with their families, and then we’re back to work,” said Bruce. “We’ve got three (games) in a week. Can we go and get a couple of results?”

Newcastle, 11th in the Premier League ahead of this afternoon’s round of games, are level with Manchester United on 25 points. Bruce said: “We’ve got Man United, Everton and Leicester – difficult games. We’ve given ourselves a platform, but were only halfway there.”

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Dubravka, Manquillo, Schar, Fernandez, Lejeune, Willems, Almiron, S Longstaff, M Longstaff, Joelinton, Gayle. Subs: Darlow, Carroll, Shelvey, Hayden, Krafth, Yedlin, Atsu.