Loic Remy has returned to the Newcastle United starting lineup for this afternoon's Premier League match against Aston Villa after serving a three-game suspension.

Remy's return will be a welcome sight as Newcastle failed to score and lost all three fixtures that he was banned for. The Frenchman starts in an apparent three-pronged attack alongside Papiss Cisse and Yoan Gouffran.

It's been 11 days since the Magpies last played and manager Alan Pardew has also made changes in defence, bringing in Fabricio Coloccini and Paul Dummett for Steven Taylor and Davide Santon.

Villa have also had a decent rest since their goalless draw against Cardiff City, with boss Paul Lambert making two changes as Karim El Ahmadi and Andreas Weimann come in for Marc Albrighton and Joe Bennett.

Newcastle: Krul; Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Dummett; Sissoko, Tiote, Anita; Gouffran, Remy, Cisse
Subs: Elliott, Haidara, Yanga-Mbiwa, Taylor, Gosling, Shola Ameobi, De Jong

Villa: Guzan; Bacuna, Vlaar, Baker, Bertrand; Westwood, Delph, El Ahmadi; Agbonlahor, Benteke, Weimann
Subs: Steer, Sylla, Holt, Clark, Albrighton, Tonev, Bennett

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