RAFAEL BENITEZ has made four changes to his Newcastle United side for tonight's Championship home game against Reading - with Daryl Janmaat and Jamaal Lascelles both dropped to the bench.

The defensive duo have paid the price for Newcastle's pointless start to the season, with Ciaran Clark coming in for his Magpies debut following his recent move from Aston Villa.

Clark will partner Chancel Mbemba at centre-half, with Vurnon Anita dropping back to the right-back spot, where he is preferred to Janmaat.

Matt Ritchie and Yoan Gouffran return to the midfield, with the latter selected for his first appearance since March's defeat to Stoke City.

Ayoze Perez also returns to the starting line-up, with Mo Diame and Rolando Aarons dropping out of the side that lost to Huddersfield Town last weekend.

NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1): Sels; Anita, Mbemba, Clark, Dummett; Hayden, Shelvey; Ritchie, Perez, Gouffran; Gayle.

Subs: Darlow (gk), Janmaat, Lascelles, Hanley, Colback, Aarons, Armstrong.

READING (4-5-1): Al-Habsi; Gunter, Obita, McShane, Van den Berg; Evans, Williams, Swift, Beerens, McCleary; Kermorgant.

Subs: Jaakkola (gk), Cooper, Mendes, Rakels, Meite, Quinn, Watson.