United face Philippe Montanier's men at St. James Park on Friday, 30th December in their final outing of 2016, and Hampshire referee Stroud will be the man in the middle for it.

He will be joined by assistants James Mainwaring and Nick Greenhalgh, while Jeremy Simpson will be the fourth official.

Friday's game will be the second game Stroud has taken charge of at St. James' Park this season, after the 47-year-old was the man in the middle for United's 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion back in August.

That day, he handed out six yellow cards - four of which were given to Newcastle's Jamaal Lascelles, Matt Ritchie, Jonjo Shelvey and Ayoze Perez - before sending off the Seagull's Sam Baldock.

Stroud has refereed 24 matches in all competitions so far this season, and has dished out a total of 116 yellow cards and eight reds. He sent off Forest's Hildeberto Pereira during their 1-1 draw with Queens Park Rangers last month.