Rafa Benitez has Newcastle on the up and they should be looking to continue their ascent in the coming weeks.
Newcastle United breached the top half of the Premier League table for the first time since October with a thoroughly deserved win at Leicester City on Saturday.
Although it was a little nervy towards the end, Newcastle dominated early on, got their goal and then stole another on the break.
For all of Leicester’s probing, they scored with their only chance. This was a performance that they and Claudio Ranieri would have been proud of two years ago.
And so surely it is time for Newcastle to start looking up. They are five points off Leicester and three points off Everton. European football is gone, but a top-eight finish is still there to play for.
It seemed improbable just weeks ago, but – for all Rafa Benitez’s talk of 40 points – Newcastle are safe with plenty of time to spare.
Fixtures against Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea do not look quite so daunting now that the Magpies have seen off Manchester United and Leicester – those results their only two wins over top-half opposition.
A trip to Everton gives Newcastle the opportunity to reel former manager Sam Allardyce in and, right now, there is little to fear for Benitez’s side.
They will not be dragged into the relegation scrap and even an indifferent finish to the season should be enough for 12th place, such are the nature of some bottom-half fixture schedules.
Why not aim high? A lofty placing would prove once again why Benitez should have been trusted in the transfer market, having inspired his side with just a trio of loan signings.
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