PAUL DUMMETT has been dropped from Newcastle United's starting line-up for today's game at Bristol City despite skippering the side in Wednesday night's 4-1 win over Reading.

Dummett's demotion is one of three changes made by Magpies manager Rafael Benitez, with Jonjo Shelvey and Ayoze Perez also dropping out of the side that started against the Royals.

Jamaal Lascelles returns to skipper the side from centre-half, with Ciaran Clark, who started at the heart of the back four on Wednesday, shuffling across to start at left-back.

Jack Colback replaces Shelvey at the heart of midfield, with Mo Diame returning from injury to dislodge Perez from the 'number ten' spot.

Yoan Gouffran retains his place on the left of midfield, with Dwight Gayle continuing as a lone striker as Aleksandar Mitrovic serves the final game of his four-game suspension.

BRISTOL CITY (4-2-3-1): O'Donnell; Matthews, Flint, Magnusson, Golbourne; Reid, O'Neil; Kodjia, Tomlin, Freeman; Abraham.

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

Subs: Darlow (gk), Sterry, Dunmett, Hanley, Shelvey, Aarons, Perez.