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Eddie Gray previews Leeds clash against Newport County

Leeds manager Eddie Gray shows his dejection during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Aston Villa and Leeds United at Villa Park on Febr...
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Leeds go up against Newport County on Sunday afternoon.

Leeds Manager Eddie Gray looks dejected during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Arsenal and Leeds United at Highbury on April 16, 2004 in London.

Leeds United legend Eddie Gray has told LUTV that he believes his old side will field a strong enough team to dispatch of League Two side Newport County in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.

The Whites have already played against Newport County this season, beating Michael Flynn’s side 5-1 at Elland Road back in September thanks to a Kemar Roofe hat-trick as well as goals from Samu Saiz and Ronaldo Vieira.

However, this time around the Yorkshire giants travel to Rodney Parade to face the mid-table League Two side, who come into the match on the back of a first win in four games thanks to a 2-1 home victory over Exeter.

Thomas Christiansen manager of Leeds United looks on during the Sky Bet Championship match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United at Molineux on November 22, 2017 in...

Leeds have failed to pick up a victory in the last two games but former Whites player and manager Gray believes they will prove too strong for Flynn’s side on Sunday.

“The players will be looking forward to the FA Cup,” Gray said. “It’s a little bit of relief from the league. You like to go as far as you can, it’s a good opportunity. But even going to somewhere like Newport will not be easy.

“These teams will be fighting for their lives to stay in the Carabao Cup. But I think we’ll be in the hat, we’ll be too strong for them. It all depends on how many changes Thomas makes. If he makes too many, he could come unstuck.

“I think Thomas will play a strong enough side that will carry us through into the next round.”

Leeds United manager Thomas Christiansen during the Sky Bet Championship match between Brentford and Leeds United at Griffin Park on November 4, 2017 in Brentford, England.

Leeds are expected to make a number of changes ahead of Sunday’s lunchtime kick-off with fringe players Andy Lonergan, Matthew Pennington, Mateusz Klich and Jay-Roy Grot likely to be in the mix for a start.

Thomas Christiansen will have one eye on Leeds’ next Championship outing, as they remain sixth in the table and travel to Portman Road to face Ipswich Town’s Mick McCarthy on January 13.