David Prutton believes the Magpies will be off the top of the Championship table by Monday night.
Former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder David Prutton has written for Sky Sports that Newcastle United will fall off the top of the Championship table on Boxing Day as they will not be able to beat his former side.
The Magpies will spend Christmas at the summit of the second tier, a point ahead of nearest rivals Brighton & Hove Albion.
They have been near-invincible in recent weeks, winning 11 of their last 13 Championship matches.
However, they are about to face a new challenge after the news that influential midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has been banned for five games for alleged racial abuse.
Newcastle have confirmed that they will not appeal that decision, meaning that Shelvey will definitely be unavailable for the Boxing Day clash with Sheffield Wednesday.
However, writing before the Magpies announced they would not be appealing, former Owls midfielder Prutton seemed to believe it would not matter whether the former Liverpool and Swansea City man was eligible, as he backed his old side to frustrate the Tyneside club.
Prutton wrote for Sky Sports: “It’s still undecided whether Jonjo Shelvey can feature before his five-game ban kicks into action so he could be available.
“But Newcastle enter the game having won four of their last five and they’ve got the depth of squad to fill the gap if Shelvey doesn’t feature. Dwight Gayle has absolutely been on fire while Mohamed Diame will no doubt want to leave his mark before heading off to the Africa Cup of Nations.
“Having said that, I feel Wednesday have the resilience to go to St. James’ Park and get something.
“PRUTTON PREDICTS: 2-2, Dwight Gayle first goalscorer.”
Prutton also predicted that Brighton will beat QPR 2-0, meaning that the Seagulls would leapfrog the Magpies and go two points clear at the top.
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