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Newcastle v Leicester: Vardy ready to return

29 Dec 2019
Jamie Vardy v Newcastle
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Newcastle United are seeking to avoid a third straight defeat after dropping into the bottom half of the table.

Second-placed Leicester City are looking to reduce Liverpool's 13-point lead at the top and stay ahead of Manchester City, who are a point behind.

Team news

Kell Watts trained with Newcastle's first team on Monday and the 20-year-old could come into contention, but the match comes too soon for Paul Dummett (groin), Allan Saint-Maximin (hamstring), Ciaran Clark (calf) and Jamaal Lascelles (leg).

Matt Ritchie (ankle) remains a long-term absentee.

Jamie Vardy is available for Leicester after missing the last match due to the birth of his daughter, while Ricardo Pereira is also fit to play after resting a tight hamstring.

Did you know?

Ten of Newcastle’s 20 Premier League goals this season have been scored by defenders, both a league-high total and ratio so far in 2019/20.

Newcastle have faced 22 shots in each of their last two Premier League matches. In their first 18 outings, they faced an average 15 shots per match.

Leicester have won their last three Premier League away matches at Newcastle and, after also winning this season’s reverse fixture 5-0, can now complete the double over the Magpies for the second time, after their title-winning campaign of 2015/16.

Demarai Gray became the 12th player to score for Leicester in the Premier League in the Foxes’ last outing. Excluding own goals, only Liverpool, with 16, have had more different goalscorers.

Match officials

Referee: Martin Atkinson. Assistants: Gary Beswick, Nick Hopton. Fourth official: Leigh Doughty. VAR: Peter Bankes. Assistant VAR: Darren Cann.

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