GEORGINIO WIJNALDUM will make his first Newcastle appearance on English soil as the Magpies continue their pre-season preparations at Sheffield United this afternoon, but there is no place for either Aleksandar Mitrovic or Fabricio Coloccini in the squad.

Wijnaldum starts at Bramall Lane, having already featured during the recent tour of the United States following a £14.5m move from PSV Eindhoven.

Mitrovic will have to wait for his first appearance in a Newcastle shirt, so Papiss Cisse continues as a lone striker, with Ayoze Perez expected to start on the left-hand side.

The continued absence of Coloccini is especially notable, with the Magpies skipper still to make his first pre-season appearance. He is nursing a niggling injury, but has also been linked with a possible move to Crystal Palace, with Newcastle expected to confirm Chancel Mbemba's £8m move from Anderlecht tomorrow.

Daryl Janmaat will wear the captain's armband in the absence of Coloccini, with Steven Taylor partnering Mike Williamson at the heart of the back four.

Today's game in South Yorkshire is a testimonial for long-serving Sheffield United stalwart Chris Morgan.

Sheff Utd (4-4-2): Long; Freeman, Collins, McEveley, McFadzean; Woolford, Basham, Baxter, Murphy; McNulty, Adams.

Subs: Willis (gk), K Wallace, J Wallace, Reed, Scougall, Campbell-Ryce, Di Girolamo, Calvert-Lewin, Done, Sammon, Morgan.

Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Krul; Janmaat, Williamson, Taylor, Haidara; Anita, Colback; Sissoko, Wijnaldum, Perez; Cisse.

Subs: Darlow (gk), Lascelles, Satka, Abeid, Gouffran, Obertan, de Jong, Aarons, Armstrong.