Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has been named on the substitutes' bench for this afternoon's Premier League clash against Crystal Palace at St James' Park.
The 23-year-old is being investigated by Italian prosecutors and the Italian Football Federation in relation to illegal betting activity, and he is at risk of a lengthy ban from football.
Eddie Howe confirmed on Friday that Tonali would be "very much available for selection" despite the ongoing probe, but the Italian will begin this afternoon's encounter with Palace on the bench along with striker Alexander Isak, who is not fully fit to start due to a knee issue.
Howe has made a total of four changes to the side that drew 2-2 with West Ham United before the international break, with Tonali, Isak, Elliot Anderson and Miguel Almiron all making way for Joelinton, Callum Wilson, Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon.
Sven Botman has failed to recover from a knee injury in time for this afternoon's match, so a back four of Kieran Trippier, Jamaal Lascelles, Fabian Schar and Dan Burn remains intact, sitting in front of goalkeeper Nick Pope.
After missing the last two games with a thigh injury, Joelinton replaces Tonali in centre-midfield and will link arms with Bruno Guimaraes and Sean Longstaff.
Gordon returns to the first XI after serving a one-match suspension last time out and will line up in attack with Wilson and Murphy.
© Reuters
As for Crystal Palace, Roy Hodgson has made three changes to the side they played out a goalless draw with Nottingham Forest before the international break, with Jefferson Lerma and Cheick Doucoure recovering form injury to start in midfield at the expense of Jeffrey Schlupp and Jairo Riedewald.
Joel Ward is the other change made to the Eagles first XI, with the right-back replacing Nathaniel Clyne to join Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi and Tyrick Mitchell in the back four.
Jordan Ayew, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Odsonne Edouard all retain their places in the front three, while summer signing Matheus Franca is on the bench and in contention to make his debut.
Newcastle United: Pope; Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Burn; Joelinton, Guimaraes, Longstaff; Murphy, Wilson, Gordon
Subs: Dubravka, Dummett, Targett, Livramento, Hall, Tonali, Andersen, Almiron, Isak
Crystal Palace: Johnstone; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Hughes, Doucoure, Lerma; Ayew, Mateta, Edouard
Subs: Matthews, Holding, Clyne, Richards, Riedewald, Ahamada, Rak-Sakyi, Ozoh, Franca
Oliver Thomas
