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Bobby Madley is proving to be an unpopular choice as referee ahead of Newcastle United’s trip to Southampton.

The West Yorkshire official was at the centre of controversy when he sent off Fabricio Coloccini during the Wear-Tyne derby earlier this season - a decision deemed wrong by the FA before the Argentine’s ban was overturned.

Coloccini was wrongly adjudged to have denied Steven Fletcher a clear goalscoring opportunity but the FA rescinded the decision.

The Wakefield whistler will be assisted by Marc Perry and John Brooks, and Gavin Ward is the game’s fourth official.

At the time former referee Keith Hackett said: “Robert Madley is still learning his craft at the top level and, having refereed the North-East derby myself in the past, it’s a challenging and difficult game to officiate.

“It’s an enjoyable game, don’t get me wrong, but experience is an important asset coming into that game.

“Experience gives you the grounding which stops you from reacting in the wrong way under pressure.

“It’s important that you do that in a game as important as that, and experience is a big asset.

“It was a surprise to me watching when the red card came out. It was a surprise to me because it was the incorrect decision.”