Best starts as Magpies leave Ben Arfa on bench

Hatem Ben Arfa had to make do with a substitute role despite his FA Cup heroics as Newcastle looked to climb back into the Barclays Premier League’s top six.

The Frenchman, scorer of a fine goal against Blackburn last weekend, made way along with fellow midfielders Mehdi Abeid and Gabriel Obertan as Danny Guthrie returned to the starting line-up after a seven-game injury lay-off and was joined by Ryan Taylor and Shola Ameobi.

New QPR manager Mark Hughes made six changes for his first game in charge, with fit-again goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, Anton Ferdinand, Akos Buzsaky, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Heidar Helguson and Jay Bothroyd all drafted in.

Newcastle: Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Ryan Taylor, Guthrie, Cabaye, Gutierrez, Best, Shola Ameobi.

Subs: Elliot, Ben Arfa, Abeid, Perch, Gosling, Obertan, Ferguson.

QPR: Kenny, Young, Gabbidon, Ferdinand, Hill, Wright-Phillips, Derry, Buzsaky, Mackie, Helguson, Bothroyd.

Subs: Cerny, Orr, Hall, Campbell, Smith, Ephraim, Macheda.

Referee: Chris Foy (Merseyside)