Benitez should give these 3 Newcastle players a chance against Preston

Aleksandar Mitrovic

Dwight Gayle has been in scintillating form this season, netting 11 goals in 12 Championship matches, and Benitez must decide whether to rest the forward and risk stemming his momentum, or start him and risk injury.

If he goes for the former, he might replace Gayle with fellow striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The Serbian international has only started one league game this season, albeit he did start the season with a suspension, but hasn’t been able to break into the starting eleven ahead of Gayle and Ayoze Perez, such is their great form.

However, Benitez may view the Preston game as an opportunity to see his squad players, and whether or not they are capable of coming in and doing a job for the team.