Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa has been dealing with a whole host of injuries of late but the Whites are approaching the contest following back-to-back league wins, the 3-1 success at home to Burnley over new year followed by last weekend's fine 3-2 triumph at West Ham United.
Pascal Struijk returned from a foot injury to start at the London Stadium but Bielsa had nine players injured for the contest plus Diego Llorente suspended.
Leeds then lost both Junior Firpo and Adam Forshaw to muscular injuries just after the 20-minute marker.
Young duo Leo Hjelde and Lewis Bate were brought on as replacements and Bielsa then introduced record signing Rodrigo after the break, the Spaniard re-appearing following a six-week lay off due to bilateral heel pain.
Bielsa then revealed at Thursday's pre-match press conference that he would probably be able to welcome back both Joe Gelhardt and Tyler Roberts from injury into his squad for this weekend's clash against the Magpies, in addition to the returning Rodrigo.
Llorente is also back available after serving a one-match ban - in effect giving Bielsa a quadruple team news boost in addition to the returns of Rodrigo, Gelhardt and Roberts.
However, United's head coach has also revealed that Patrick Bamford has a new injury - an issue at the bottom of the foot - and the Whites no 9 joins Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper, Jamie Shackleton, Sam Greenwood and Charlie Cresswell on the sidelines.
Firpo and Forshaw are also injured whilst Stuart McKinstry and Archie Gray picked up knocks playing for United's under-23s on Monday night.
Crysencio Summerville had also recently hurt his clavicle.
Leeds would put themselves 13 points clear of the Magpies with a victory and this is how the Whites might end up lining up.
Leeds then lost both Junior Firpo and Adam Forshaw to muscular injuries just after the 20-minute marker.
5. LB - Pascal Struijk
Struijk was immense at centre-back upon his return from a foot injury at West Ham but the 22-year-old has also been used as a left back and that could be the case against the Magpies although Leo Hjelde excelled there against the Irons.
6. CDM - Robin Koch
The German international has made an impressive return to the side after his injury lay off and seems the likely answer in the holding midfield role with Phillips and Forshaw out although Struijk is another option there.
7. CM - Mateusz Klich
The Pole was denied a second league goal of the season in the victory at West Ham by another confusing VAR call but Klich is building up a consistent run of starts and another one surely awaits in the middle of the park.
8. ACM - Rodrigo
The record signing returned as a second-half substitute against the Irons and Bielsa must now decide whether to start him or bring Rodrigo along gradually from the bench. If it's the bench then Hjelde or Lewis Bate could start, perhaps with Klich at no 10.