Alan Pardew has decided to field a strong Newcastle United side as they take on Cardiff City in the FA Cup this afternoon, with the in-form Yoan Gouffran and Hatem Ben Arfa featuring in a five-man midfield.

Newcastle have also included the services of box-to-box player Moussa Sissoko, while ball-winning duties have been handed to Cheick Tiote and Vurnon Anita.

Papiss Cisse has been given a chance up front, despite his lack of goals in recent months.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has named an attacking side for his first game in charge of Cardiff, with Peter Odemwingie and Andreas Cornelius leading the club's forward line.

The visitors feature a four-man midfield, which is made up of Don Cowie, Aron Gunnarsson, Kim Bo-Kyung and Peter Whittingham.

Newcastle United: Elliot; Santon, Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara; Tiote, Anita; Ben Arfa, Sissoko, Gouffran; Cisse

Cardiff City: Marshall; McNaughton, Hudson, Turner, John; Whittingham, Kim, Gunnarsson, Cowie; Odemwingie, Cornelius

Written by
Christopher Dodd