Leicester face Newcastle with aim to extend lead in EPL

Leicester City will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the English Premier League (EPL) table when they take on Newcastle United at the King Power Stadium on Monday.

The Foxes restored their five-point advantage at the Premier League summit with a magnificent 1-0 win at Watford thanks to Riyad Mahrez's superb solo effort.

City can now move as much as eight points clear of Tottenham Hotspur ahead of their final fixture against Crystal Palace before March's international break.

The Foxes will be without midfielder Matty James as he continues his recovery from a knee problem, while Mahrez should be fit after being withdrawn against Watford with cramp late on.

Newcastle United have won just one of their last six Premier League games and haven't emerged victorious on the road since beating Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in December.

Newcastle currently sit 19th in the table after their 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth at St. James' Park last time out.

They recently replaced head coach Steve McLaren with Rafa Benitez, who will be first time in charge of the club. And it will be a big test for Benitez, who was earlier in the year fired by Real Madrid.

An own goal from Steven Taylor and a strike from Joshua King put the Cherries 2-0 up, before Ayoze Perez pulled one back for the hosts, but Charlie Daniels' injury time effort saw the Magpies beaten for the 16th time this campaign.

Newcastle could be without a number of first teamers as Paul Dummett (knock), Andros Townsend (hamstring), Papiss Cisse (groin/pelvis), Fabricio Coloccini (calf/shin), Cheick Tiote (muscular), Charles Mbemba (ankle/foot), Kevin Mbabu (hip/thigh), Massadio Haidara (knee), Tim Krul (knee) and Gabriel Obertan (hamstring) could all miss out.