Newcastle United confirmed starting XI vs AFC Wimbledon as £15m man makes full debut - eight changes

The Magpies’ head coach has opted for eight changes from Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Premier League champions Manchester City with Will Osula making his full debut. Osula joined from Sheffield United for £15million in the summer and his only previous appearance was a cameo outing in the 3-1 defeat at Fulham.

“As I say all the time with new signings, there is a process these players have to go through depending on their respective pathways and how they get to this point,” Howe said in his pre-match press conference:

“Will has come in and we were well aware we’d have to work with him as coaches and Will as the player to develop himself and improve every area of his game to become a Premier League striker. We feel he has the attributes to do that - very quick, physically excellent, he’s a tall and imposing character and probably his best asset in running in behind and stretching the line for us.

“He’s got things to smoothen out in his game but we’ve seen already from the battles he’s had with our centre-halves in training that he has an ability to score goals and to have a physical impact in the game. We’re working hard with him and he’s working hard - his attitude has been excellent. His career, and game, is going in the right direction.”

Fabian Schar captains the side as one of three players to remain in the starting line-up the Man Cotu draw. Joelinton keeps his place in midfield while Harvey Barnes remains on the left wing.

Otherwise, it’s eight changes with the likes of Miguel Almiron, Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock and recalled. Martin Dubravka starts in goal as Nick Pope drops out with two goalkeepers, Odysseas Vlachodimos and John Ruddy, on the bench.

Newcastle United starting XI: Dubravka; Livramento, Schar, Krafth, Kelly; Joelinton, Willock, Longstaff; Almiron, Barnes, Osula SUBS: Vlachodimos, Ruddy, Tonali, Gordon, Hall, J.Murphy, Burn, A.Murphy, Guimaraes.