Newcastle once again have Sandro Tonali on the bench for tonight's huge Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund.

Eddie Howe has stuck by the Italian midfielder in his press conferences in recent days, but Tonali has to settle for a place among the substitutes.

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The midfielder is this week facing an investigation by Italian authorities in a betting scandal that could see him banned for as many as 12 months.

Newcastle deployed Sean Longstaff in midfield with Tonali on the bench as they smashed Crystal Palace on the weekend, and it is Longstaff who keeps his place alongside Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes.

Josh Murphy and Callum Wilson scored in that 4-0 win, but it is still not enough for them to get the nod tonight as Miguel Almiron and Alexander Isak come back into the starting line-up.

Jamaal Lascelles leads the side at centre-back and Joe Willock is on the bench, Harvey Barnes and Sven Botman mis out through injury as the Magpies look to continue their good form in Europe's elite competition.

Newcastle XI: Pope, Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Almiron, Isak, Gordon.

Subs: Dubravka, Karius, Dummett, Tonali, Wilson, Targett, Hall, Livramento, Murphy, Willock

Date and time: 8pm BST, Wednesday October 25, 2023

Venue: St James' Park