ALEKSANDAR MITROVIC will make his first league start of the season after Rafael Benitez made four changes for Newcastle's Championship game at QPR.

Mitrovic, whose only start this term came in the EFL Cup game with Cheltenham, replaces Dwight Gayle from the side that started Saturday's 2-0 win at Derby.

There is only change in the back four, with Ciaran Clark coming into the side for Chancel Mbemba, who has not travelled to London after suffering a slight knock.

Isaac Hayden comes back into the heart of midfield, replacing Jack Colback, with Ayoze Perez named in the 'number ten' role ahead of Mo Diame, who drops down to the bench.

August signings Daryl Murphy and Achraf Lazaar have travelled to Loftus Road, but neither is named in the matchday squad of 18.

QPR (5-4-1): Smithies; Perch, Hall, Onuoha, Caulker, Bidwell; Cousins, Henry, Chery, Ngbakoto; Washington.

Subs: Ingram (gk), Lynch, Borysiuk, Wszolek, El Khayati, Shodipo, Sylla.

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

Subs: Darlow (gk), Yedlin, Hanley, Colback, Diame, Atsu, Gayle.