RAFAEL BENITEZ has made three changes to his Newcastle United starting line-up for this lunch-time's Premier League game at Chelsea.

DeAndre Yedlin has paid the price for a series of poor displays, and finds himself dropped to the bench at Stamford Bridge. Javier Manquillo returns to the side to replace him, and will line up at right-back with Chancel Mbemba on the opposite side of the back four.

Mo Diame has earned a surprise recall in midfield, replacing Isaac Hayden from the side that started Tuesday's 2-2 draw at West Brom. That means Jonjo Shelvey remaining on the substitutes' bench.

The final change comes up front, with last season's leading goalscorer, Dwight Gayle, preferred to Joselu.

CHELSEA (3-4-2-1): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; Moses, Kante, Drinkwater, Alonso; Fabregas, Hazard; Morata.

Subs: Caballero (gk), Zappacosta, Cahill, Bakayoko, Willian, Pedro, Batshuayi.

NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1): Darlow; Manquillo, Lejeune, Clark, Mbemba; Diame, Merino; Ritchie, Perez, Murphy; Gayle.

Subs: Elliot (gk), Yedlin, Hayden, Shelvey, Aarons, Joselu, Mitrovic.