Toon will look to stop Mooy running game

However, I would imagine his approach to the Huddersfield game will be more reminiscent of how United approached the recent home win over Cardiff.

The system remained the same but Newcastle were a lot more expansive in their approach.

Centre-half Fabian Schar scored twice in that game and both he and Florian Lejeune will have more licence to carry the ball forward from the back and try and break the lines.

Newcastle will also look to get the ball out wide and feed crosses into Salomon Rondon as well.

Rondon has proven how dangerous he is in the box this term and he will certainly be the focal point on Saturday.

It will be interesting to see whether the personnel in midfield changes, though.

Isaac Hayden and Sean Longstaff were thrust into central midfield out of necessity because of injuries to Ki Sung-yueng, Jonjo Shelvey and Mo Diame.

Ki and Diame are back fit now and Shelvey is close to a return but since both Hayden and Longstaff have excelled in their absence, the midfield will prove to be a particular selection headache for Benitez this weekend.

ON the field it feels a lot more positive in recent weeks.

Despite being just one point above the relegation zone, performances, on the whole, have improved greatly in 2019. Wins over Cardiff and Manchester City are obvious highlights but even the performances in defeats to Chelsea and Tottenham and the draw to Wolves have left a lot to be positive about.

Key players are returning from injury and the arrival of Miguel Almiron has given the players, the fans and most importantly Rafa Benitez a huge boost.

Off the pitch is a different story. There is still a lot of uncertainty over the ownership of the club. Mike Ashley says the club remains

Newcastle will look to get the ball wide and

feed crosses to Salomon Rondon

for sale and the fans are desperate for change.

Benitez’s contract expires this summer and it is crucial Newcastle ensure he remains on Tyneside.

The Spaniard is enjoying a level of support from the fanbase that hasn’t been seen since the days of Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson.

He has given the fans hope that a brighter future is achievable under a manager who has won numerous major honours in the game.

Benitez wants to stay but there are a lot of assurances surrounding transfer policy, and improvements to the club’s infrastructure and the academy that he wants in writing before he commits himself to the club.

While his future isn’t resolved that uncertainty will only persist. I believe so, yes.

He showed glimpses of his quality from the bench against Wolves after spending very little time with the squad.

He was bright, energetic and almost created a second goal for Ayoze Perez. In the first half of that game there was very little movement from Christian Atsu for Matt