If it ain't broke - Our predicted XI as Newcastle United take on Leicester City at King Power Stadium

Newcastle United travel to the East Midlands on Monday night to take on struggling Leicester City and will be hoping to keep the pressure on in the Champions League race. Kick-off is 8pm live on Sky Sports.

Aston Villa leapfrogged Newcastle on Saturday with a shock win over Nottingham Forest, but the Magpies currently have two games in hand over the Villans, one of which is the game against Leicester on Monday.

As I'm writing this on Sunday morning, Chelsea and Manchester City are yet to play, and they are the two clubs we are chasing down with just two points between us and fourth-placed Chelsea, again, we have a game in hand over both of those sides.

Hopefully, by the time you're reading this, Brentford will have done us a favour against Chelsea, and Man City have dropped points in the Manchester derby. But we can't rely on other teams to do the work for us, we need to keep winning and to do that, we think Eddie Howe will resist the urge to change a winning side.

Goalkeeper

Nick Pope - Restored as first-choice after Eddie Howe convinced Martin Dubravka to stick around, he'll be between the sticks on Monday.

Defenders

Kieran Trippier - One of a few players carrying a niggle, and probably the most likely to be swapped out with Emil Krafth coming in, but if he can play, he will.

Fabian Schar - Growing in confidence more with each win. Those long ball pings are coming back.

Dan Burn - You'll never ever drop Dan Burn.

Tino Livramento - Tino is surprising everyone with how well he's handling playing on the opposite flank.

Midfielders

Bruno Guimaraes (c) - It wasn't his best game last time out, but the captain isn't going to be dropped.

Sandro Tonali - I just absolutely love this man. If he could just work on his pass completion he'd be the ultimate midfielder. What an engine.

Joelinton - Another one carrying a niggle, needing treatment on the pitch on Wednesday. But if his legs aren't broken, he will push to play.

Forwards

Jacob Murphy - Another assist for the record books on Wednesday. There's just no stopping him lately.

Alexander Isak - Craig Hope says he reckons he'll be fit and that's good enough for us. Although it could be a good game for Callum Wilson to play.

Harvey Barnes - Anthony Gordon is still carrying that knock he picked up on England duty, but even if he's fit, Barnes has earned the right to start against his old club.

Anthony Gordon could be on the bench, we think that will be the main change with Leo Shahar dropping out of the squad.

Matt Targett could return to replace Sean Neave on the bench too, but we don't see any changes to the starting XI and that's the main thing.

HOWAY EDDIE HOWE'S NIGGLE-CARRYING LADS!