Newcastle v Leicester: Magpies Unchanged

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

At St. James' Park

Steve McClaren has named an unchanged starting line-up for the third successive game as Newcastle United entertain Leicester City in the Barclays Premier League.

The Magpies have taken seven points from their last four fixtures and, unsurprisingly, head coach McClaren has kept faith with the same set of players that started a draw against Stoke and a victory at Bournemouth last time out.

That means United are expected to line up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Republic of Ireland international goalkeeper Rob Elliot behind a back four of Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, captain Fabricio Coloccini and Paul Dummett.

Cheick Tiote and Vurnon Anita will anchor the hosts' midfield at St. James' Park, with Moussa Sissoko and six-goal leading scorer Georginio Wijnaldum taking up roles on either flank.

And in the final third, Ayoze Perez will continue his impressive partnership with Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic. The pair have scored five goals between them in their last six outings.

On the substitutes' bench there is a place for birthday boy Jamie Sterry, who turned 20 today, and the young full-back is joined by Papiss Cisse, Florian Thuavin, Yoan Gouffran, Siem de Jong, Jamaal Lascelles and Freddie Woodman.

Newcastle United (4-4-2): Rob Elliot; Daryl Janmaat, Chancel Mbemba, Fabricio Coloccini (c), Paul Dummett; Moussa Sissoko, Cheick Tiote, Vurnon Anita, Georginio Wijnaldum; Ayoze Perez, Aleksandar Mitrovic

Substitutes: Freddie Woodman, Jamie Sterry, Jamaal Lascelles, Siem de Jong, Yoan Gouffran, Florian Thauvin, Papiss Cisse

Leicester City (4-4-2): Kasper Schmeichel; Danny Simpson, Robert Huth, Wes Morgan (c), Christian Fuchs; Riyad Mahrez, N'Golo Kanté, Danny Drinkwater, Marc Albrighton; Leonardo Ulloa, Jamie Vardy

Substitutes: Mark Schwarzer Ritchie De Laet, Andy King, Gokhan Inler, Jeff Schlupp, Nathan Dyer, Shinji Okazaki

Referee: Mike Jones (Cheshire)