Burton Albion FC vs Newcastle - Stuart Beavon could boost Burton

Stuart Beavon could return to the Burton squad for the visit of Sky Bet Championship leaders Newcastle.

The striker has not featured for the first team since the 3-0 defeat at Reading on November 19, with a dead leg sustained in a reserve-team fixture keeping him out of recent matches.

Kyle McFadzean suffered a cut knee during the home defeat to Huddersfield on Tuesday night but Burton boss Nigel Clough, who has called the game between his side and Newcastle "the biggest mis-match of the season in a league game anywhere in the country", expects to have the defender available.

Fellow centre-half Ben Turner will miss out again as he completes a two-match suspension.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez could name an unchanged side for the third game in a row after back-to-back victories over Birmingham and Wigan got the Magpies back on track.

Christian Atsu, who came off the bench to score the second goal against Latics, will hope to have done enough to force his way into the side.

Striker Ayoze Perez was also a substitute against Wigan following illness and is another pushing for a start, while Jack Colback will hope to return after a month out with an eye problem.

If Benitez does decide to make changes then Aleksandar Mitrovic, Achraf Lazaar, DeAndre Yedlin and Chancel Mbemba will all come into contention.