MATT TARGETT is an injury absentee for Newcastle United's game at Brighton this afternoon.

The summer signing from Aston Villa is replaced by Sven Botman in the only change to the side that started against Nottingham Forest last weekend.

Targett is suffering from a dead leg sustained in the opening-day win over Forest.

It remains to be seen whether Botman or Dan Burn fills in at left-back, with the latter having played in the position during his time at the Amex Stadium prior to joining Newcastle.

With Jonjo Shelvey expected to be sidelined for around three months after undergoing hamstring surgery earlier this week, Eddie Howe has opted to name an unchanged midfield and attack against the Seagulls.

That means Bruno Guimaraes, Joe Willock and Joelinton continuing to form a midfield three, with Miguel Almiron once again getting the nod ahead of both Ryan Fraser and Jacob Murphy.

Unsurprisingly, Graham Potter has opted to stick with the same Brighton side that started last weekend's 2-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.


NEWCASTLE (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Willock, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.

Subs: Dubravka, Dummett, Lascelles, Ritchie, Manquillo, Wood, Murphy, Anderson, S Longstaff.

BRIGHTON (3-5-1-1): Sanchez; Veltman, Dunk, Webster; March, Gross, Mac Allister, Caceido, Trossard; Lallana; Welbeck.

Subs: Steele (gk), Lamptey, Colwill, Mwepu, Alzate, Sarmiento, Undav, Mitoma, van Hecke.