Leeds United face a golden opportunity to distance themselves even further from the relegation dog-fight this weekend with a home fixture against Newcastle United.
Under new ownership and the management of Eddie Howe, the Magpies have still struggled to turn a corner, with just one win in Howe's opening ten games as boss.
The North East club find themselves marooned in the bottom three, unable to cling onto a valuable three points against Watford last Saturday which would have catapulted them out of the relegation zone.
Leeds on the other hand pulled clear of the drop with a surprise 3-2 win over West Ham United at the London Stadium.
The Whites have played out two five-goal thrillers in the capital already this season, going toe-to-toe with Champions League holders Chelsea and the Champions League-chasing Hammers more recently.
Ahead of Leeds' next fixture against Newcastle, it has been announced by the Premier League that Chris Kavanagh will take charge of proceedings at Elland Road.
The Premier League referee has officiated Leeds just once this season - the 3-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge which saw tempers flare after the final whistle.
After consulting the pitchside VAR monitor, Kavanagh opted to award a late and decisive penalty to Chelsea in that fixture for what he perceived to be a foul by Mateusz Klich on Antonio Rudiger inside the Leeds penalty area.
Kavanagh awarded three penalties during that game, firstly to Leeds following a lunge on Daniel James by Marcos Alonso, before evening up the scoreline in the spot-kick stakes when Raphinha dived in on Rudiger shortly after the restart.
Many supporters felt Klich was harshly punished for his transgression in west London back in December.
He may have felt his luck was about to turn as his effort found the net at the London Stadium last Sunday, only to see Mike Dean and his VAR official agree that a touch on the line by Rodrigo Moreno meant Leeds' fourth goal against West Ham would be chalked off for offside.
Leeds take on Newcastle at Elland Road on Saturday January 22, hoping to move 12 points clear of the relegation zone.
