Eddie Howe's side return to Premier League action when hosting Thomas Frank's Bees at St. James' Park and this will be the third time Bankes has officiated a fixture involving the Magpies this season.

The 42-year-old was in charge for United's 3-1 defeat away at Fulham in September and, despite handing out six yellow cards that afternoon at Craven Cottage, booked no Newcastle players.

The Lancashire whistler was also the man in the middle for the Magpies' 1-0 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion and booked four players during October's Premier League clash at St. James' Park, including Dan Burn and Lewis Hall.

Bankes, a FIFA listed official since 2021, showed his first Premier League red card during Newcastle's 1-0 away defeat against Crystal Palace during the 2019/20 campaign, sending off former Magpies loanee Valentino Lazaro.

2024/25 stats

Games (all competitions): 23

Yellow cards issued: 94

Red cards issued: 2

Assistants

Assistant referees: Edward Smart and Nick Greenhalgh

Fourth official: Thomas Bramall

VAR: Craig Pawson

Assistant VAR: Akil Howson