Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has identified the three matches that he believes his side can win following their midseason warm weather training break.
The Toon Army put together a fine run after a similar break last season, winning their next three matches on the bounce, and Benitez is hoping for a similar kind of run this time around.
As quoted by the Chronicle, he said: “If we can win some games like we did last year then that would be perfect.
“We have some massive games against Huddersfield, Burnley and West Ham coming up. We know that if we do well in these games we can win.
“But at the end of the day we have to play to our level, we have to deal with the pressure then approach the games with the confidence we had last year.”
OPINION
Newcastle will be hoping for a period of revitalisation like the one they enjoyed last year, and you’d have to say that they are in a very good position to do so. Both Burnley and Huddersfield Town are very winnable matches, but it’s interesting that Benitez has also identified West Ham as a game that he thinks his side can get something out of. Whether that says more about the Magpies’ ambitions or the Hammers’ recent slump is hard to say, but at the very least it will be pleasing for supporters to hear that Benitez is looking up and not down the table. If the Toon Army cannot get anything out of those three matches, however, you would worry for them. There are still some tough fixtures to be played this season, and if they cannot pick up point from the teams around them then they will have to rely on upsets against sides who you really wouldn’t fancy them against. The Magpies have shown that they are capable of causing a shock here and there, but as far as contingency plans go, it would be far from the safest.
