DWIGHT GAYLE returns to Newcastle United's starting line-up for this afternoon's Championship game with Brentford.

Gayle was rested for last weekend's FA Cup third-round draw with Birmingham City, but the Magpies' leading goalscorer unsurprisingly returns to the side at Griffin Park.

Karl Darlow is back in goal, with Matz Sels dropping back down to the bench, and DeAndre Yedlin is preferred to Vurnon Anita at right-back.

With Jonjo Shelvey serving the final game of his five-match suspension, Jack Colback plays alongside Isaac Hayden at the base of midfield.

Matt Ritchie and Yoan Gouffran fill the wide positions, with Ayoze Perez selected to play behind Gayle in the 'number ten' slot.

Sammy Ameobi is named among the substitutes, having returned to Tyneside this week following a successful loan spell at Bolton Wanderers.

Brentford have named Scott Hogan on their substitutes' bench, with the striker having been the subject of a number of approaches from West Ham.

Brentford (4-4-2): Bentley; Dean, Egan, Bjelland, Colin; McEachran, Yennaris, Woods, Field; Sawyers, Vibe.

Subs:  Bonham (gk), Hogan, Hofman, Kerschbaumer, Clarke, Jota, Barbet.

Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Hayden, Colback; Ritchie, Perez, Gouffran; Gayle.

Subs: Sels (gk), Hanley, Anita, Lazaar, Sterry, Ameobi, Murphy.