CHANCEL MBEMBA and Fabricio Coloccini will start alongside each other at the heart of the Newcastle United back four for this afternoon's Premier League opener against Southampton.

Mbemba will make his Magpies debut after making an £8m switch from PSV Eindhoven this summer, while Coloccini starts just days after signing a new five-year deal at St James' Park.

Neither player has started a single pre-season game, but Steve McClaren has selected the duo alongside each other in preference to Mike Williamson and Steven Taylor.

Jack Colback and Vurnon Anita will play alongside each other at the base of midfield, with Georginio Wijnaldum handed a creative role ahead of them in the number ten position.

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Moussa Sissoko will start on the right, with Gabriel Obertan a surprise selection on the opposite flank.

Papiss Cisse starts as a lone striker, with Siem de Jong, Ronaldo Aarons, Ayoze Perez and new signing Aleksandar Mitrovic all named as part of a strong substitutes' bench.

Southampton will be managed by Erwin Koeman, with his brother, Ronald, currently out of action as he undergoes surgery on his Achilles.

Jay Rodriguez will make his first Saints appearance since April 2004 after missing the whole of last season through injury, with Graziano Pelle selected to start up front.

Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Krul; Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara; Anita, Colback; Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Obertan; Cisse.

Subs: Darlow (gk), Taylor, de Jong, Tiote, Aarons, Perez, Mitrovic.

Southampton (4-2-3-1): Stekelenburg; Cedric, Fonte, Yoshida, Targett; Wanyama, S. Davis; Tadic, Mane, Rodriguez; Pelle.

Subs: Gazzaniga (gk), Long, Martina, Ward-Prowse, Reed, Juanmi, Caulker.