Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe named his strongest starting line-up available for the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at Southampton's St Mary's Stadium.
The Magpies went into the clash after a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace in which Bruno Guimaraes had played despite suffering a nasty whack on the ankle in the 1-0 win over Fulham. And Howe again started with the Brazil star in the centre of hid midfield.
Kieran Trippier skippered the team while Sven Botman and Fabian Schar formed the centre-back pairing and Dan Burn again played at left-back. Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock and Bruno made up the engine room trio.
READ MORE: Newcastle revamp their scouting network as Ashworth masterplan takes shape
And it was Miguel Almiron, Callum Wilson and Joelinton again in attack with no place for Allan Saint-Maximin in the starting XI. Once again Alexander Isak was on the bench. Despite being linked with a move to EFL outfit Hull, Karl Darlow was on the bench.
You can follow the game as it happens in our live match blog here for all the latest analysis, plus the dressing room reaction after the full-time whistle.
Southampton vs Newcastle line-ups
Newcastle: Pope, Trippier, Botman, Schar, Burn, Longstaff, Willock, Joelinton, Almiron, Guimaraes, Wilson.
Subs: Darlow, Lascelles, Saint-Maximin, Ritchie, Lewis, Isak, Manquillo, Murphy, Anderson.
Southampton: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Lyanco, Caleta-Car, Salisu, Diallo, Djenepo, Ward-Prowse, Orsic, Mara, Alcarez.
Subs: Caballero, Maitland-Niles, A.Armstrong, Adams, Perraud, Edozie, Elyounoussi, Bednarek, Lavia.
READ NEXT
Tough Newcastle transfer decision, right-back Plan B, Flamengo play hardball
- Notable response in United locker room that history had been made at Palace
- Nick Pope says Newcastle United dressing room ghosts inspire current crop
- Eddie Howe clarifies decision to start Bruno Guimaraes for Newcastle United
- Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville disagree over Newcastle top-four prediction
