Goalkeeper Pope hasn't featured since the Champions League defeat at Marseille in November because of a groin injury, but has been restored to the Magpies side in place of Aaron Ramsdale as one of four changes made by head coach Eddie Howe - another former Claret - following their Boxing Day defeat at Manchester United.

Joelinton, Harvey Barnes and Yoan Wissa also come into the line-up, with the latter making his first league start for the club as United look to for a victory at Turf Moor to bring the curtain down on 2025.

Pope plays in goal against the club he played 155 times for between 2016 and 2022, with Barnes and Wissa replacing Jacob Murphy and Nick Woltemade in the forward line and Joelinton coming in for Jacob Ramsey as United look to topple their former skipper Scott Parker's men in Lancashire.

Lewis Hall, Fabian Schär and Malick Thiaw all keep their places following the 1-0 reverse last time out, as do Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, Lewis Miley and captain Bruno Guimarães.

Ramsdale, Ramsey, Murphy and Woltemade are all on the bench, along with Joe Willock.

Young quartet Alex Murphy, Leo Shahar, Sam Alabi and Sean Neave are again among the substitutes, as they were for the Boxing Day defeat at Old Trafford.

Newcastle United: Nick Pope, Lewis Hall, Fabian Schär, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, Yoane Wissa, Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes, Malick Thiaw, Bruno Guimarães (c), Lewis Miley

Substitutes: Aaron Ramsdale, Jacob Murphy, Nick Woltemade, Joe Willock, Alex Murphy, Jacob Ramsey, Leo Shahar, Sean Neave, Sam Alabi