Newcastle v Brentford
Sky Bet Championship, Today, 15:00pm
Rafa says he will check on the players who have been away on international duty before picking his team. Matz Sels, DeAndre Yedlin, Achraf Lazaar, Paul Dummett, Chancel Mbemba, Ciaran Clark, Grant Hanley, Isaac Hayden, Christian Atsu, Mohamed Diame, Matt Ritchie and Aleksandar Mitrovic were among those who went away with their respective countries.
Striker Daryl Murphy withdrew from the Republic of Ireland squad with a calf problem and has been undergoing treatment during the international break.
Keeper Rob Elliot and defender Massadio Haidara are closing in on returns from long-term knee injuries, but midfielder Rolando Aarons remains on the sidelines with a fractured metatarsal.
Brentford could be without Danish forward Lasse Vibe, who suffered a foot injury during the goalless draw with Wigan a fortnight ago.
Callum Elder is still out with a knee injury, Tom Field has a groin problem and Rico Henry remains sidelined by a shoulder injury.
Ryan Woods will be pushing for a start after he was an unused substitute against the Latics upon his return from suspension.
Fellow midfielder Alan Judge is still recovering from a broken leg.
The Bees, who have lost just one of their last seven Championship games, have not played Newcastle in the league for 23 years.
Match facts
Newcastle have won three of the last four league clashes with Brentford, losing the other. This will be the first league meeting since March 1993.
There has never been a draw between these two sides in league competition (three wins apiece).
Newcastle United have had 12 different players score for them this season - the most in the Championship.
No player has scored more goals in the Championship in 2016 than Brentford's Scott Hogan (14 goals in 18 appearances).
Dwight Gayle has scored seven goals in his first nine league games for Newcastle; the most by an Englishman for the Magpies in a season since Kevin Nolan (12) and Andy Carroll (11) in 2010-11.
The Bees have lost just one of their last seven matches in the league.