Newcastle United news: Benitez prepares for January, Lascelles on fans

The club is expecting another 50,000-plus attendance for Saturday's home game against Birmingham City.

And captain Lascelles has been talking about the big difference supporters have made – home and away – to the team in the Championship this season.

Newcastle, looking to put three successive defeats behind them, lead the Championship by one point ahead of Birmingham's visit to St James's Park.

The average gate for home league games this season is 50,781.

Meanwhile, United manager Rafa Benitez is preparing for a January exodus at the club.

Benitez will lose up to four players to the African Cup of Nations next month.