It could have been Newcastle United instead of Brighton & Hove Albion who recently became the first team to gain promotion from the Championship. Newcastle was at the top position for a brief period of time and it seemed that they would finish the season remaining unbeaten but two losses in the last three matches have changed the equation for them.
Newcastle United is well placed in the second position right now and a win in the next match would virtually seal them a position in the top two. Rafa Benitez’s side had the chance against Leeds United but a lapse of concentration saw them conceding at the dying moments of the game.
Now the story is if Newcastle manages to shrug off the challenge of Preston North End in the next match and Huddersfield Town fails to get past Fulham, Newcastle will be the second team to ply their trade in the English top tier.
Aleksandar Mitrovic
Had Dwight Gayle remained fit for the most of the season it would have been a different scenario at the St James Park. Despite scoring 22 goals this season there have been concerns over his fitness and Aleksandar Mitrovic should use this opportunity to give a lift to his spiralling Toons career.
He had been the first choice striker in the Premier League last season but a subsequent drop of form had pushed him down the pecking order. But he will now have a glorious opportunity to revive Benitez’s trust on him. There are no doubts over his potential but he is very inconsistent and has a very poor conversion rate. He needs a few goals to resurrect his form.
Jonjo Shelvey
The midfielder has been trying in the Newcastle midfield to give the Toons an uplift of form and has succeeded to some extent so far. But he needs to pull the strings in the middle of the park for the remaining games as Newcastle is eyeing a return to the Premier League. Shelvey was the only player to show some intent in the 3-1 defeat against Ipswich Town and Benitez would be very happy if he continues his form.
Jamaal Lascelles
The 23-year-old has been handed the captaincy in this season and has stood tall in the Newcastle defence like a mountain. But in the last few games, he has been shaky and needs to round up his performance for the rest of matches.
