Sheffield Wednesday are currently 12 points behind Newcastle United in the Championship table.
Rafael Benitez has told the Telegraph that he believes Sheffield Wednesday have an advantage over Newcastle United due to their experience of Championship football.
Wednesday were beaten in the play off final last season by Hull City, and Carlos Carvalhal’s side look to have a chance of achieving promotion again.
Wednesday are currently challenging for a spot in the top six, but claiming a place in the automatic spots may be beyond them.
The Owls are currently 12 points behind Newcastle in the Championship standings, with only 12 games remaining in their league season.
However, Benitez believes that Wednesday had an advantage over Newcastle going into the season.
“If you see where Norwich and Aston Villa are, who were relegated with us, then you see how difficult the Championship is,” Benitez said.
“But at the same time, you see teams like Brighton and Sheffield Wednesday, they have so much more experience of being in the top six of the Championship, they have the advantage.
“They did not need to change half their squad in the summer, they just add one or two players. People continue to say we will go up, or you have spent so much money, I just say we are doing well and we are working very hard.”
Newcastle are currently in a very strong position to achieve promotion back to the Premier League, and sit in second spot in the table.
Newcastle have built up a five point cushion over Huddersfield Town, who are their nearest rivals for an automatic promotion spot.
The Magpies are next in action later this evening, when they take on league leaders Brighton & Hove Albion.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
