Wilson benched as Howe makes six changes - Official team news vs Chelsea
The teams sheets are out ahead of tonight’s 5.30pm kick off at St James’ Park, which sees us take on Chelsea in our last game before the World Cup break.
Without further ado, here’s the side Eddie Howe has gone with against Graham Potter's blues:
STARTING XI: Pope - Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn - Bruno, Longstaff, Willock - Almiron, Wood, Joelinton
SUBS: Darlow, Lascelles, Shelvey, Wilson, Saint-Maximin, Targett, Manquillo, Murphy, Anderson.
Callum Wilson is only fit enough for the bench after training away from the first team all week, but Botman, Schar, Trippier, Bruno, Willock and Almiron all return to Howe's XI, with the boss making six changes from midweek.
Chris Wood leads the line, Joelinton will operate out wide and Dan Burn has returned to left-back, with Jacob Murphy and Allan Saint-Maximin both on the bench.
For the visitors, there's no Sterling, Aubameyang, Silva, Havertz or Cucurella in their starting 11, with youngster Lewis Hall handed his first Premier League start.
Chelsea XI: Mendy - Koulibaly, Chalobah, Azpilicueta (c) - Hall, Jorginho, Kovačić, Loftus-Cheek - Mount, Gallagher - Broja.
