Team News: Seven changes for Newcastle United against Brighton & Hove Albion

Rafael Benitez makes seven changes as Newcastle United host Brighton & Hove Albion this afternoon.

Rob Elliot is out with a thigh injury, while Chancel Mbemba, Javi Manquillo, Rolando Aarons, Mohamed Diame, Jonjo Shelvey and Jacob Murphy also drop out.

Karl Darlow, Ciaran Clark, Isaac Hayden, Mikel Merino, Christian Atsu, Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle are the players to replace them as the Magpies try to avoid a sixth consecutive home defeat following Wednesday's loss to Manchester City.

The visiting Seagulls are also much-changed from the side that fell to Chelsea on Boxing Day, displaying six alterations.

Bruno, Gaetan Bong, Solly March, Anthony Knockaert, Pascal Gross and Glenn Murray are all given starting berths in favour of Ezequiel Schelotto, Markus Suttner, Beram Kayal, Davy Propper, Jose Izquierdo and Tomer Hemed.

Newcastle United: Darlow; Yedlin, Clark, Dummett, Lascelles; Ritchie, Hayden, Merino, Atsu; Gayle, Joselu Subs: Woodman, Murphy, Shelvey, Diame, Perez, Mbemba, Manquillo

Brighton & Hove Albion: Ryan, Bruno, Bong, Dunk, Duffy, Stephens, Knockaert, Gross, March, Propper, Murray Subs: Krul, Kayal, Baldock, Hemed, Goldson, Izquierdo, Schelotto