Aleksandar Mitrovic dropped, Dwight Gayle recalled for Newcastle

Rafa Benitez has named his Newcastle United starting XI for this afternoon's game at Elland Road.

Benitez's side take on Leeds United in a televised fixture (1.15pm kick-off) looking to make it eight Championship wins in a row.

Dwight Gayleplaceholder image
Dwight Gayle

And Dwight Gayle has been restored to the starting XI, with Aleksandar Mitrovic among the substitutes.

Ayoze Perez is preferred to Mohamed Diame in the No 10 role, while Vurnon Anita plays at right-back ahead of DeAndre Yedlin.

Matt Ritchie returns from suspension in place of Atsu, who is on the bench.

NEWCASTLE UNITED: Darlow; Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Colback, Shelvey, Ritchie, Perez, Gouffran; Gayle. Subs: Sels, Yedlin, Mbemba, Hayden, Diame, Atsu, Mitrovic.

LEEDS UNITED: Green, Ayling, Jansson, Bartley, Taylor, O'Kane, Vieira, Doukara, Phillips, Roofe, Wood. Subs: Silvestri, Cooper, Sacko, Berardi, Grimes, Dallas, Antonsson.

More to follow

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