Newcastle Falcons have made three changes for Sunday's crucial Aviva Premiership trip to Leeds Carnegie (kick-off 5.30pm).

Kiwi Jeremy Manning starts at full back with Alex Tait moving to the wing replacing South African flyer Gcobani Bobo.

In the front row Kieran Brookes comes in for Scotland international Euan Murray and local boy James Fitzpatrick gets the nod at inside centre. After impressing for the Development Team during a 23-5 victory over Northampton on Monday, Tom Catterick gets a place amongst the replacements.

Head coach Alan Tait said: “It’s all there to play for on Sunday and it’s not the end of the world whatever happens with the result as there’s still plenty of rugby left. We’ve just got to go down there and keep doing what we do well.

“Jon Golding and Tim Swinson signing new contracts this week was great news for the club and I hope we can all settle down now and build for the future.”

Newcastle

15 Jeremy Manning
14 Luke Fielden
13 Luke Eves
12 James Fitzpatrick
11 Alex Tait
10 Jimmy Gopperth
9 Micky Young

1 Jon Golding
2 Matt Thompson
3 Kieran Brookes
4 James Hudson (Captain)
5 Andrew Van der Heijden
6 Tim Swinson
7 Will Welch
8 Ally Hogg

Replacements

16 Rob Vickers
17 Grant Shiells
18 James Hall
19 Mark Wilson
20 Redford Pennycook
21 Hall Charlton
22 Tane Tu’ipulotu
23 Tom Catterick