ALLAN SAINT-MAXIMIN returns to Newcastle United's starting line-up for this afternoon's home game with West Ham.

Saint-Maximin comes into the Magpies' side to make his first start since late August as a replacement for the suspended Bruno Guimaraes.

Guimaraes is unavailable after his sending off against Southampton in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, with Saint-Maximin's return expected to mean that Joelinton drops back into midfield.

The Brazilian will form part of a midfield three with Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff.

January signing Anthony Gordon is named on the substitutes' bench, but there is no place in the squad for Newcastle's deadline-day addition Harrison Ashby.

Alexander Isak is also not involved in the match-day 18 after suffering a suspected concussion during Tuesday's semi-final success. 


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

Subs: Dubrvaka, Dummett, Lascelles, Gordon, Ritchie, Lewis, Fraser, Murphy, Anderson.

WEST HAM (3-4-3): Fabianski; Kehrer, Ogbonna, Aguerd; Coufal, Paqueta, Rice, Emerson; Bowen, Antonio, Benrahma.

Subs: Hegyi, Anang, Johnson, Cresswell, Fornals, Lanzini, Downes, Ings, Soucek.