Alexander Isak fit to help Newcastle Champions League bid at Leicester | Football

Newcastle can press their claims for a place in next season’s Champions League by pushing Leicester closer to an immediate return to the Championship with another painful defeat at the King Power Stadium.

The Magpies are in an exhilarating mood after winning the Carabao Cup with their thrilling 2-1 victory against Liverpool before beating Brentford 2-1 to stay in the pack chasing the fourth, or perhaps even fifth, place required to play midweek football against Europe’s elite next season.

What can stop the party? Not lacklustre Leicester who have been woeful all season, failing to gain results with either Steve Cooper or Ruud van Nistelrooy in charge.

They are primed to become the first team in history to lose eight consecutive home league games without scoring and defeat will make it 11 top-flight reversals in front of their own fans.

In their last eight matches in all competitions, they have scored just once while letting in 20 goals and they have scored 11 times at home, a figure only basement club Southampton have failed to beat.

Wolves’ 2-1 win at Ipswich on Saturday means the Foxes are 15 points adrift of their midlands rivals, who are 17th and also have a significantly better goal difference.

The hosts must know deep down the game is all over bar the shouting, especially as they have a trip to Brighton at the weekend before a daunting game at home to a Liverpool side already digging out the bunting in preparation for the inevitable title celebrations.

To rub salt into the wound, it could be that Leicester are pushed even closer to relegation by former attacker Harvey Barnes who is a potent part of the Newcastle attack, even if it is often off the bench. He is worth a small dabble at 9/4 with bet365 to score against his old club while Alexander Isak is 10/3 with the same firm to break the deadlock.

They also go 21/20 Sweden striker and top transfer target Isak – who is reportedly winning his race to recover from injury and be fit to play after a groin problem – finds the net at any time.

Newcastle will extend the Foxes’ miserable run of home defeats without scoring by winning to nil at 13/8 with bet365, who offer 15/2 on a 2-0 away win.

• Leeds’ latest slip, a 1-1 draw at struggling Luton, leaves them two points behind new Championship leaders Burnley and a point behind Sheffield United in second, and out of the automatic promotion picture.

The Elland Road club are still 7/5 favourites with Unibet to win the title despite taking seven points from the last 18 and they go 11/4 for the Clarets to stay in pole position but, despite losing at Oxford on Saturday, Sheffield United appeal at a 10/3 with a host of firms to be champions. Also back them at 7/5 with Paddy Power and Betfair to finish in the top two.

• Just five points cover the top six teams in League Two with Bradford top on goal difference. The Bantams’ strength is their home form but they are mediocre on the road and have three of their last five games away from home.

Third-placed Walsall haven’t won in their last nine matches, Wimbledon and Doncaster are also in and out of form but new leaders Port Vale have won five of their last six and are 14/5 with SpreadEx and Sporting Index to be crowned champions.

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