Newcastle v Leeds preview: Championship clash live on Sky Sports
Friday 14 April 2017 18:41, UK
Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez will monitor the fitness of Jack Colback and Isaac Hayden ahead of the Good Friday visit of play-off hopefuls Leeds, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.15pm.
Colback has been struggling with a virus and Hayden tightness in his ankle, causing the two midfielders to miss the last two matches. Striker Dwight Gayle is out after going off with hamstring trouble 29 minutes into last weekend's 2-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.
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Benitez has no further injury concerns, however, as the Magpies continue their bid to return to the top flight at the first attempt.
Leeds pair Liam Bridcutt and Hadi Sacko are both hoping to return to contention. Midfielder Bridcutt missed last week's home win against Preston due to an Achilles problem, while an ankle injury has ruled winger Sacko out of the last two games.
Goalkeeper Marco Silvestri could miss the rest of the season after knee surgery, so Bailey Peacock-Farrell is likely to start on the bench again. Centre-half Liam Cooper will serve the third game of his six-match ban and fellow defender Tyler Denton (knee) is still out.
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Newcastle have taken 22 points from their last possible 27 against Leeds in league competition (W7 D1 L1).
The Whites have shipped 24 goals across their last 11 league games against Newcastle, conceding at least twice on nine occasions in this run.
Rafael Benitez's three previous games as manager against Leeds have all ended in wins, one each with Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle - however, this is his first home match against the Whites.
This match pits the Championship's two top scoring players this season in Chris Wood (24 goals) and Dwight Gayle (22).
Newcastle have opened the scoring more often than any other Championship team this season (29 times), yet they are coming up against the player to score the first goal more often than anyone else in Chris Wood (14).
Kemar Roofe scored in his last game against Preston, and hasn't scored in back to back league games for Leeds - he last did it in the Football League for Oxford in March 2016.
Watch Newcastle v Leeds live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.15pm on Friday.
