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Albion v Newcastle - team news

Clarke makes three changes to his starting XI

GORAN Popov is handed his first appearance in eight games as Steve Clarke makes three changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Arsenal a fortnight ago.

He starts at left-back in place of the benched Liam Ridgewell, who was struggling with a minor groin problem in the week.

PFA Young Player of the Year nominee Romelu Lukaku and Marc-Antoine Fortune are recalled to the starting XI in attack.

The men to make way are Shane Long and Jerome Thomas, who are both among the substitutes, where they are joined by Academy product Kemar Roofe for the first time this season.

Alan Pardew makes three changes to the Magpies side that lost 3-0 at home to Sunderland last weekend.

Rob Elliot, Massadio Haidara and James Perch are elevated from the bench and start in place of the injured Tim Krul and absent Sylvain Marveaux and Cheick Tiote.

ALBION (4-4-2): Foster; Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Popov; Dorrans, Yacob, Morrison, Brunt; Fortune, Lukaku. Subs: Myhill (gk), Roofe, Rosenberg, Reid, Long, Ridgewell, Thomas.

NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1) Elliot; Debuchy, S Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Haidara; Perch, Cabaye; Gouffran, Sissoko, Gutierrez; Cisse. Subs: Harper (gk), Williamson, Anita, Gosling, Ben Arfa, Campbell, Shola Ameobi.

REFEREE: M Jones (Chester).