Leeds United and Newcastle supporters have been in contrasting moods in the Transfer Tavern in the last few days, what with the Whites picking up a much-needed 2-1 win over Middlesbrough in the Championship on Sunday, while the Magpies suffered a third straight Premier League loss a day earlier.

Thomas Christiansen’s Leeds has lost their preceding three league matches prior to the visit of former manager Garry Monk and his Boro team, but goals either side of half time from Pablo Hernandez and Ezgjan Alioski set the Yorkshire giants en route to three points, with Britt Assombalonga’s late penalty not enough to prevent defeat for the Teessiders. Whereas Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle were handsomely beaten 4-1 by Manchester United a day earlier, with Dwight Gayle’s early strike ultimately giving Magpies fans false hope as Anthony Martial, Chris Smalling, Paul Pogba, and Romelu Lukaku all netted to seal a comprehensive win for Jose Mourinho’s side.

Thus, there has been a different mood among both sets of supporters in the Tavern so far this week, with many Leeds fans eagerly anticipating their side’s return to action against Championship leaders Wolves on Wednesday night, while many of our resident Newcastle fans are already turning their attentions to their team’s crucial clash with Watford in the Premier League on Saturday.

In the meantime though, both sets of fans have been discussing their respective side’s plans for the January transfer window, with Newcastle after reinforcements in a bid to re-establish themselves as a Premier League club, while Leeds may need a few more additions to return to the promised land for the first time since 2004.

And with some Magpies players struggling for minutes and perhaps seeking a move away in the New Year, here are TWO Newcastle stars Leeds must seek to snap up in a bid to enhance their promotion credentials…

Dwight Gayle

Dwight Gayle played a significant part in helping Newcastle return to the Premier League last season, with his 23 goals in just 32 games propelling them to the title.

Yet the Englishman has struggled to convince Benitez of his abilities at top-flight level with just two starts from their opening 12 matches, with summer signing Joselu more often than not leading the line as the Magpies’ lone striker.

As such, Gayle could well be set for a move away in January, and after such a phenomenal season last time out at second tier level, he could be exactly what Leeds are after in their own quest to reach the promised land.

Aleksandar Mitrovic

Chris Wood’s departure from Leeds to Burnley over the summer was always going to cause issues for the Yorkshire giants at some stage this season, and with just two victories in their last eight games, that time might be now.

Pierre Michel Lasogga has done reasonably well up top while Caleb Ekuban made his first Championship start of the campaign against Middlesbrough on Sunday, yet one senses that another striker may be needed if they are to sustain a promotion push.

And one man who will certainly be on the lookout for first team football come the New Year is Newcastle’s Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has yet to start a Premier League game for Benitez’s side so far this term, and has overall been limited to just 49 minutes of league action.

But with a World Cup at the end of the campaign, the 23-year-old knows full well that he needs to be playing regularly, and in a side with much creativity just behind and one seeking promotion, he could well get the minutes and the goals he needs were he to move to Elland Road.