Brighton & Hove Albion vs Newcastle - Pocognoli fit to face promotion rivals Newcastle

Sebastien Pocognoli has been passed fit for Brighton ahead of their top-of-the-table clash with Newcastle.

The Belgium left-back had to go off late on during Saturday's 3-0 win over Reading with a groin problem, but the move was precautionary.

Brighton boss Chris Hughton could therefore opt to stick with a winning side against his former club, who are second in the Sky Bet Championship.

Liam Rosenior is building up his fitness after a long spell out with an ankle injury and fellow defender Gaeten Bong is still out with a knee problem.

Magpies manager Rafael Benitez will be without leading scorer Dwight Gayle once again after he suffered a setback on his return to action.

The 20-goal frontman lasted just 33 minutes against Aston Villa last Monday evening following more than a month on the sidelines and, although a scan on his hamstring has shown no new damage, he will not be risked.

Benitez faces the task of finding the right man to take the attack to Brighton with Aleksandar Mitrovic misfiring alongside Ayoze Perez in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Bristol City, when Daryl Murphy was an unused substitute.

The Spaniard may also think hard about his goalkeepers after Karl Darlow made another costly error at the weekend with Rob Elliot waiting in the wings, while Isaac Hayden continues his recovery from ankle surgery.