Christian Atsu and Ayoze Perez named in Newcastle's starting XI

Benitez's league leading side take on the Championship strugglers at St James's Park this afternoon (3pm kick-off).

Aleksandar Mitrovic, Christian Atsu and Ayoze Perez come into the side in place of Dwight Gayle, Yoan Gouffran and Mohamed Diame.

LIVE: Newcastle United v Bristol City – updates, as they happen, from this afternoon's Championship clash at St James's Park

Gayle is sidelined because of a hamstring problem.

Newcastle lead second-placed Brighton and Hove Albion by a point.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Shelvey, Colback; Ritchie, Perez, Atsu; Mitrovic. Subs: Elliot, Gamez, Hanley, Anita, Gouffran, Diame, Murphy.

BRISTOL CITY: Giefer, Vyner, Flint, Wright, Bryan, Cotterill, O'Neil, Reid, K.Smith, O'Dowda, Wilbraham. Subs: Fielding, Tomlin, Taylor, Paterson, Pack, Magnusson, Hegeler.