Confirmed Leeds v Newcastle line-ups: O’Kane passed fit, Gayle starts up front

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Leeds United host Newcastle United in the Championship this afternoon.

Leeds United starting line-up: Green, Ayling, Bartley, Jansson, Taylor, O’Kane, Vieira, Phillips, Roofe, Doukara, Wood.

Leeds United substitutes: Silvestri, Cooper, Sacko, Berardi, Grimes, Dallas, Antonsson.

Newcastle United starting line-up: Darlow, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Colback, Shelvey; Ritchie, Gouffran, Perez; Gayle.

Newcastle United substitutes: Sels, Yedlin, Mbemba, Hayden, Diame, Atsu, Mitrovic.

Leeds United host Newcastle United this afternoon in what is the game of the weekend in the Championship.

Leeds go into the game in great form having won seven of their last ten games, including the last three in a row, and can go back up into the play-off places with a win today.

Garry Monk’s men have impressed of late, and he’s stuck with Souleymane Doukara out wide ahead of Hadi Sacko, after he played his part in the 3-2 win at Norwich City last time out.

Pablo Hernandez misses out, meaning Ronaldo Vieira is handed a start in midfield along Kalvin Phillips and Eunan O’Kane, with the Irishman passed fit having been struggling with a knock over the international break.

Otherwise, it’s a familiar line-up for Leeds, as the back four of Luke Ayling, Pontus Jansson, Kyle Bartley and Charlie Taylor will sit in front of Robert Green, whilst Chris Wood leads the line and will be supplied by Kemar Roofe.

Sacko makes the bench today, and is joined by the likes of Gaetano Berardi, Matt Grimes, Stuart Dallas and Marcus Antonsson, with no place in the squad for Alex Mowatt.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United have won their last seven Championship games in a row, and can move five points clear at the top of the table with a win this afternoon.

Rafael Benitez’s men have swatted aside the competition so far this season, but he faced a big decision over whether to start Aleksandar Mitrovic or Dwight Gayle in attack – and he’s gone with Gayle.

The rest of the team sees Ayoze Perez supporting the attack ahead of Mohamed Diame, whilst Yoan Gouffran and Matt Ritchie both start out wide, with Jonjo Shelvey the key in midfield.

That means that Mitrovic starts from the bench, and is joined by the likes of Diame, Christian Atsu and DeAndre Yedlin in a strong Newcastle squad.