OPINION
Newcastle get this weekend’s Premier League action started when they visit Leicester on Friday night, but it’s going to be a tough game to get anything out of.
Leicester have been revitalised under new manager Brendan Rodgers and are up to seventh on the back of four consecutive wins, with Jamie Vardy scoring five goals.
Florian Lejeune is out for the season after suffering a serious knee injury in the defeat last time out against Crystal Palace, and that will force Benitez into change at the back, but he has everyone else available.
Mo Diame is fit and we think he’ll slot straight back into midfield in place of Sung-Yeung Ki. We think Federico Fernandez will come in at the back for the injured Lejeune.
And, despite Newcastle not winning in three and losing the last two, we think they’re the only two changes Benitez will mkae in a game where he’ll be hoping to contain and hit on the counter-attack.
Almiron is yet to score but he’s looked good in black and white so far, and Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez can hurt Leicester if they get the chances.
This is the starting XI we expect Benitez to put out against Leicester on Friday night:
