Christian Atsu has been handed a start for Championship leaders Newcastle United for their trip to Burton Albion this afternoon.

The Chelsea loanee has forced his way into Rafael Benitez's starting XI after coming off the bench to score in the Magpies' 2-0 victory at Wigan Athletic in midweek.

Yoan Gouffran drops to the bench as Atsu slots into a four-man midfield, with Mohamed Diame and Dwight Gayle continuing up front.

One other change sees DeAndre Yedlin replace Vurnon Anita in the back four.

The game comes too soon for Jack Colback, who has been out for a month with an eye problem, while striker Ayoze Perez is made to start among the substitutes.

For the hosts, Nigel Clough makes two changes to the side that suffered a 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield Town last time out.

Midfielder John Mousinho and wing-back Lucas Akins earn the nod to start, with Hamza Choudhury and Jamie Ward dropping to the bench.

Kyle McFadzean is passed fit to start despite cutting his leg in the game against the Terriers, while Ben Turner serves out the last game of his two-match suspension.

Burton Albion: McLaughlin; Brayford, McFadzean, McCrory; Mousinho, Akins, Naylor, Dyer, Palmer, Irvine, O'Grady
Subs: Bywater, Flanagan, Williamson, Ward, Miller, Choudhury, Harness

Newcastle United: Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden, Atsu; Diame, Gayle
Subs: Sels, Anita, Lazaar, Mbemba, Gouffran, Perez, Mitrovic