Premier League team news: Newcastle v Southampton

McClaren has some tough decisions to make. Credit: PA

Newcastle boss Steve McClaren is weighing up whether to hand starting roles to new boys Aleksandar Mitrovic and Chancel Mbemba in his side's season-opener against Southampton on Sunday.

The pair are still settling into life on Tyneside and may have to make do with a place on the bench, while captain Fabricio Coloccini is also a major doubt after missing most of pre-season with an Achilles problem.

McClaren has a number of players struggling to recover from injury, with the likes of Cheick Tiote, Emanuel Riviere and Paul Dummett all unlikely to feature.

Jordy Clasie and Shane Long will be assessed after the pair missed Thursday's 2-0 Europa League win at Vitesse Arnhem due to a hamstring injury and illness, respectively.

Saints manager Ronald Koeman may also miss the match as a ruptured Achilles likely requires an operation, while Ryan Bertrand, Gaston Ramirez, Florin Gardos and Fraser Forster are absent.

Newcastle squad: Krul, Darlow, Coloccini, Williamson, Lascelles, Haidara, Janmaat, Taylor, Mbemba, Sissoko Anita, De Jong, Colback, Aarons, Marveaux, Obertan, Cisse, Gouffran, Perez, Mitrovic, Wijnaldum

Southampton squad: Stekelenburg, K Davis, Gazzaniga, Cedric, McCarthy, Martina, Targett, Caulker, Yoshida, Fonte, Wanyama, Clasie, S Davis, Reed, Ward-Prowse, McQueen, Rodriguez, Long, Tadic, Mane, Juanmi, Pelle