EDDIE HOWE has opted for a change in formation for Newcastle United's Carabao Cup semi-final decider against Arsenal - switching to five at the back.

Sven Botman comes into the side for the second-leg game at St James' Park, playing alongside Fabian Schar and Dan Burn.

It is the first time Newcastle have played with a five-man defence all season, with Howe's side looking to defend the two-goal lead they established at the Emirates last month.

Botman's return is one of two changes to the side that kicked off last weekend's league defeat to Fulham, with Kieran Trippier also getting the nod to start.

Trippier is preferred to Tino Livramento, who drops down to the bench, while Joelinton also drops out of the side that started against Fulham.

The Brazilian suffered a knee injury at the weekend, and does not feature in tonight's squad.

With Botman playing as one of three centre-halves, Trippier and Lewis Hall will be stationed as wing-backs, with Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes forming a central-midfield twosome.

Callum Wilson returns to the Newcastle squad for the first time since mid-December, and is named on the substitutes' bench.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has named an unchanged starting side, sticking with the same XI that kicked off the weekend win over Manchester City.

NEWCASTLE (5-2-3): Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.

Subs: Pope, Wilson, Targett, Krafth, Osula, Livramento, Willock, Longstaff, Miley.

ARSENAL (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard;  Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard.

Subs: Setford, Calafiori, Zinchenko, Tierney, Kiwior, Jorginho, Merino, Nwaneri, Sterling.