ANDY Carroll is a surprise absentee from the Newcastle starting line-up for today's Premier League away game at Manchester City.
Carroll, who is hoping to receive his maiden call-up to the full England squad tomorrow, has been dropped to the substitutes' bench by Magpies manager Chris Hughton.
Shola Ameobi replaces him, and makes his first Premier League start of the season, having scored on his two previous starts in the Carling Cup.
Hughton has also dropped Wayne Routledge to the bench, with Jonas Gutierrez taking the Londoner's place on the right of midfield.
MAN CITY (4-5-1): Hart; Boateng, Kompany, K Toure, Lescott; Milner, Y Toure, De Jong, Barry, Silva, Tevez.
Subs: Given (gk), Boyata, Vieira, A Johnson, Jo, Santa Cruz, Adebayor.
NEWCASTLE (4-4-1-1): Krul; Perch, Coloccini, Williamson, Enrique; Gutierrez, Tiote, Barton, Ben Arfa; Nolan; Ameobi.
Subs: Soderberg (gk), Campbell, R Taylor, Smith, Routledge, Lovenkrands, Smith.
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