ROB ELLIOT is a surprise starter as Newcastle United look to secure the win over Preston that would guarantee promotion.

Elliot will be making his first appearance of the season, having suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury towards the end of last term.

The Irish international replaces Karl Darlow, who drops down to the bench after a shaky display in the 3-1 defeat to Ipswich.

In total, Rafael Benitez has made five changes to the side that crashed to defeat at Portman Road.

Vurnon Anita is preferred to DeAndre Yedlin at right-back, while Ciaran Clark makes his first start since the 3-1 defeat to Fulham after recovering from a medial ligament injury. Clark replaces Grant Hanley at the heart of the back four.

Ayoze Perez gets the nod ahead of Mo Diame in the 'number ten' role, while Aleksandar Mitrovic starts as a lone striker ahead of Daryl Murphy.

Newcastle will be guaranteed automatic promotion with a victory, and a win would also mean they could still pip Brighton to the title.

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

Subs: Darlow (gk), Yedlin, Mbemba, Colback, Gouffran, Diame, Murphy.

PRESTON (4-5-1): Maxwell; Browning, Huntington, Boyle, Spurr; Gallagher, Browne, Johnson, McGeady, Barkhuizen; Hugill..

Subs: Lindegaard (gk), Vermij, Horgan, Pringle, May, Robinson, Beckford.