Jones – who penned a new four-year contract on Thursday ahead of celebrating his second anniversary as Town manager at St James’ Park today – has brought Dan Potts back in after the left-back missed Monday’s 4-2 victory over Lincoln City through illness.

Also returning to the starting XI is midfielder Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, who played at Port Vale last Saturday before sitting out the New Year’s Day encounter with the Imps.

Wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of both Scott Cuthbert and Alan Sheehan, who serves the first of a three-match suspension following his red card against Lincoln, is their fellow centre-half Johnny Mullins.

TOWN: Stech, Justin, Rea, Mullins ©, Potts, Mpanzu, O Lee, Berry, Shinnie, Collins, Hylton. Subs: Stacey, Cook, Cornick, Gambin, E Lee, Famewo, Shea (GK)

REFEREE: Neil Swarbrick