Eden Hazard has been named in Chelsea's starting lineup for the first time this season for this afternoon's Premier League trip to Newcastle United.

The forward has been eased back to fitness by Maurizio Sarri with two cameo appearances from the bench following his World Cup exploits with Belgium.

Hazard is joined by Mateo Kovacic in the starting XI as Sarri makes two changes from the 3-2 win over Arsenal last weekend, with Willian and Ross Barkley making way.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is back in Chelsea's matchday squad after being overlooked last time out, meanwhile, and Olivier Giroud provides a backup option for Alvaro Morata.

In terms of the hosts, Rafael Benitez has named four full debutants from the off, bringing in Federico Fernandez, Fabian Schar, Ki Sung-yueng and Salomon Rondon for their first starts.

There are six changes in all from the goalless draw at Cardiff City, with DeAndre Yedlin returning from injury and Jacob Murphy coming in on the right-hand side.

Jamaal Lascelles, Ayoze Perez, Jonjo Shelvey, Joselu, Javier Manquillo and Kenedy all drop out, with the latter ineligible against his parent club.

Shelvey and Lascelles are absent from the squad altogether because of injury, so youngsters Sean Longstaff and Jamie Sterry are included in the matchday squad.

Newcastle United: Dubravka, Yedlin, Clark, Fernandez, Schar, Dummett, Murphy, Diame, Ki, Ritchie, Rondon
Subs: Darlow, Muto, Perez, Joselu, Sterry, Atsu, Longstaff

Chelsea: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso, Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic, Pedro, Hazard, Morata
Subs: Caballero, Barkley, Loftus-Cheek, Giroud, Zappacosta, Willian, Christensen

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