STEVE McCLAREN has dropped Aleksandar Mitrovic from Newcastle United's starting line-up for this afternoon's game at Crystal Palace.

Mitrovic has paid the price for a poor showing in last weekend's 3-0 defeat to Leicester City, and finds himself dropped to the substitutes' bench at Selhurst Park.

He is replaced by Papiss Cisse, who scored as Newcastle drew 1-1 at Palace last season, with the Senegalese striker handed his first league start since the 2-1 defeat to Watford in the middle of December.

Newcastle's other change is enforced, with Jack Colback returning from injury to replace the injured Cheick Tiote at the heart of midfield.

Palace boss Alan Pardew has named former Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye and ex-Sunderland striker Connor Wickham in his starting line-up as he takes on his former employers.

Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Hennessey; Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare; McArthur, Cabaye; Zaha, Puncheon, Bolasie; Wickham.

Subs: Speroni (gk), Lee, Jedinak, Ledley, Kelly, Chamakh, Bamford.

Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Elliot; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Dummett; Colback, Anita; Sissoko, Perez, Wijnaldum; Cisse.

Subs: Darlow (gk), Sterry, Lascelles, Gouffran, de Jong, Thauvin, Mitrovic.