EDDIE Howe has made two changes to his Newcastle team for today's game against Tottenham - and has been forced into a bold defensive call.

With Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall only fit enough for the bench, Jacob Murphy looks set for a defensive role. It's not clear whether Murphy will play full-back in a back four, or if Howe has changed to a back three of Emil Kraft, Fabian Schar and Dan Burn. The former feels more likely.

In attack, Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak start together for the first time in the league this season.

Barnes replaces the absent Joe Willock and Elliot Anderson steps in for Hall, who hasn't been able to train this week, but is among the substitutes. Anderson will join Bruno and Sean Longstaff in the United midfield.

NEWCASTLE: Dubravka, Murphy, Krafth, Schar, Burn; Bruno, Longstaff, Anderson; Barnes, Gordon, Isak

Subs: Karius, Gillespie, Dummett, Ritchie, Livramento, Hall, White, A.Murphy, Parkinson

TOTTENHAM:  Vicario; Porro, Romero, Van de Ven, Udogie; Bissouma, Bentancur, Maddison; Johnson, Son, Werner.

Subs: Austin, Emerson, Dragusin, Davies, Hojbjerg, Sarr, Lo Celso, Kulusevski, Gil.