Kick-Off: 8.05pm After the usual high emotions of derby weekend, Newcastle United line up for their second home match of this season's Europa League group stage against Belgians Club Brugge, who currently sit top of their own league after starting the season with a bang. Newcastle head into the game after picking up a well-deserved point at the Stadium of Light last weekend, despite playing for 65 minutes with 10 men. As expected, Alan Pardew has made a number of changes for the game, with a mix of first-teamers and fringe players brought in ahead of the game with the Belgians. Brugge meanwhile come into the game having seen their unbeaten start to the season ended with aplomb by OH Leuven at the weekend, thanks to a 4-1 defeat. In the shape of Colombian international forward Carlos Bacca they have a real threat: he has scored 12 club goals in 15 appearances already this season, and Newcastle will have to be on their toes to keep him quiet. Club Brugge are the 176th club Newcastle have met competitively and the 60th European opponent as well as the 5th Belgian side faced.
Team News
Alan Pardew had been expected to start with Shola Ameobi after the player was unfortunately substituted in the first half of the derby game against Sunderland after Cheick Tiote's red card, but with a shift to the 4-3-3, there is no place for the Geordie veteran. His brother does get the nod, playing as one of the front three along with Papiss Cisse and Gabriel Obertan, who impressed in the Bordeaux match a couple of weeks ago. Injury keeps out 'keeper Rob Elliot, as well as Dan Gosling, Ryan Taylor and Haris Vuckic, while Argentinian captain Fabricio Coloccini is rested after his heroic exploits against Sunderland. Brugge will be without Brugge miss Michael Almeback, Jim Larsen, Ryan Donk, Niki Zimling and Thomas Meunier thanks to injury.
Line-Ups
Newcastle United (4-3-3): Steve Harper; Davide Santon, Steven Taylor (c), James Perch, Shane Ferguson; Gael Bigirimana, Cheick Tiote, Vurnon Anita; Gabriel Obertan, Papiss Cisse, Sammy Ameobi
Substitutes: Tim Krul, Fabricio Coloccini, Yohan Cabaye, Hatem Ben Arfa, Adam Campbell, Shola Ameobi, Demba Ba
Brugge: Jorgacevic, Hogli, Hoefkens, Buysse, Jordi, Refaelov, Jorgensen, Blondel, Odjidja, Lestienne, Bacca
Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden)