Dwight Gayle and Aleksandar Mitrovic can fire Newcastle to a top-10 finish providing Rafa Benitez doesn't leave

Matt Jones - Editor 19:30 09/08/2017
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  • MANAGER

    Rafa Benitez

    STAR MAN

    Jonjo Shelvey

    LAST SEASON

    1st (Championship)

    TOP SCORER

    Dwight Gayle (23)

    KEY INS

    Jacob Murphy (Norwich, £12m), Christian Atsu (Chelsea, £6.2m), Florian Lejeune (Eibar, £8.7m), Javier Manquillo (Atletico Madrid, £4m), Mikel Merino (Borussia Dortmund, loan)

    Christian Atsu

    KEY OUTS

    Lewis Gibson (Everton, £6m), Daryl Murphy (Nottingham Forest, £2m)

    REASONS TO BE POSITIVE

    With Benitez at the helm, there should be real optimism they can soar to safety. In Dwight Gayle, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Jonjo Shelvey they possess experience and proven quality.

    REASONS TO BE PESSIMISTIC

    Benitez’s bond with the fans is sensational, but less than stable with thrifty chairman Mike Ashley, with their promotion campaign littered with arguments over financial backing.

    ONE TO WATCH

    Mikel Merino was among La Liga’s brightest talents just two seasons ago.

    Mikel Merino

    Mikel Merino

    EXPECTATION

    Newcastle are a big club and with Benitez in possession of talented players, fans will be hoping for a campaign without a relegation fight and even a push for the top 10.

    REALITY

    The season is unlikely to pass without an Ashley/Benitez war of words which could derail progress. Likely to land safely in mid-table though, with their strikers firing them out of a relegation battle if one ensues.

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