RAFAEL BENITEZ has made seven changes to his Newcastle United team as they look to reach the semi-finals of the League Cup for the first time since 1976 when they take on Hull City.

As expected, Benitez has made a host of alterations to the side that lost to Blackburn Rovers last weekend, with Tuesday's game providing further confirmation of Newcastle's new-found interest in the cup competitions.

The only players who cannot be described as 'first choice' in the Magpies side are Matz Sels, who replaces Karl Darlow, and Achraf Lazaar, who comes in at left-back for only his second start in a Newcastle shirt.

Jamaal Lascelles and Vurnon Anita both return to the back four, with DeAndre Yedlin, Chancel Mbemba and the injured Jesus Gamez all dropping out of the weekend line-up.

Mo Diame, who joined Newcastle from Hull, and Yoan Gouffran both return in midfield, with leading scorer Dwight Gayle restored to the side in attack.

Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic, who both underperformed markedly at the weekend, do not even make the bench at the KCOM Stadium.

HULL (4-3-3): Jakupovic; Elmohamady, Dawson, Maguire, Robertson; Meyler, Huddlestone, Livermore; Snodgrass, Mbokani, Diomande.

Subs: Marshall (gk), Davies, Weir, Henriksen, Tymon, Bowen, Olley.

NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1): Sels; Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Lazaar; Shelvey, Hayden; Ritchie, Diame, Gouffran; Gayle.

Subs: Darlow (gk), Dummett, Mbemba, Yedlin, Tiote, Atsu, Murphy.