Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez must decide whether to start striker Dwight Gayle when they face Aston Villa live on Sky Sports 1 on Monday night.

Gayle returned to action as a late substitute in their 2-2 draw with Norwich on Tuesday after six games out with injury, but could be back in the starting XI for the game at St James' Park.

Villa, meanwhile, head into the game on a nightmare run of form that sees them winless in their last nine games in all competitions.

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Team news

Midfielder Isaac Hayden is out for up to four weeks after ankle surgery, while a series of other players are expected to recover from minor knocks. However, Vurnon Anita (ankle) and Rolando Aarons (knee) remain sidelined.

Villa boss Steve Bruce will give defensive duo Neil Taylor (ankle) and James Bree (knee) as long as possible to prove their fitness.

Mile Jedinak could return after missing the last five games with a groin injury but Gabby Agbonlahor is out with the hamstring problem he suffered in training last month.

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The Magpies are unbeaten in 10 home league games against Aston Villa (W6 D4), since a 0-3 loss in April 2005.

Aston Villa haven't beaten Newcastle since April 2011, drawing six and losing five since then.

Villa haven't won a league game since Boxing Day 2016 and have now gone eight games without a win in the Championship (W0 D2 L6) - this winless run is the longest currently in the Championship.

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Steve Bruce's side have the worst points tally in the Championship in 2017 (one point).

Newcastle have only conceded the first goal of a Championship game on a league-low six occasions this season, but on every occasion which they have conceded first, they've lost the game.

The two players with the most shots on target in the Championship this season could meet in this match: Gayle and Scott Hogan (43 each). However, Gayle (20 goals) has six more goals than Hogan (14 goals).

Conor Hourihane has more assists than any other player in the Championship this season (11).

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Prutton's prediction

It's a tough one. Both have assembled expensive teams but they are operating on vastly different levels. There is something Steve Bruce needs to address at Aston Villa, and his players owe him a big performance and results. But at this moment in time, with the way Newcastle are playing and how they are quite comfortable in large patches at home, it will be a tough one for Villa.

I don't think it is going to be particularly rampant but with Villa coming off a defeat to Barnsley, Newcastle will know they have the capabilities to beat Steve Bruce's side.

PRUTTON PREDICTS: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)