Key players give United a chance – but recruits still

BIG THREE OF SHELVEY, RITCHIE AND GAYLE KEY TO HOPES

SO WE are now back where a big club ably supported by 50,000 crowds ought to belong but occasionally don’t due to blinkered leadership from the very top of the mountain.

The first job for Newcastle United under the shrewd management of Rafa Benitez is to avoid a third relegation under the current ownership.

Surely the Magpies can manage that small task – yet the vastly experienced Harry Redknapp, once offered the SJP hot seat by Mike Ashley, believes it can all go “horribly wrong” because of the lack of bulk buying, which is of course down to either ineptitude or lack of desire by those holding the purse strings.

Redknapp is putting United amongst seven clubs who will face a relegation fight.

Well, thanks a lot. We’re grateful. Rain on our parade, why don’t you?

Sure, all Geordies have been a tad apprehensive by the lack of a centreforward arriving over the summer months but surely Rafa can organise what he’s got to keep us above the bottom three.

I believe he can and will. Indeed I’m hoping for something better than that.

Nevertheless we must look to Huddersfield Town and Brighton – the other two promoted clubs – to do worse than United and then hope for the likes of Watford, Burnley and even Bournemouth or Swansea to find it a very chilly winter.

What Newcastle must do is get off to a flying start to ease the pressure which might sound a tall order given they open at home to Tottenham Hotspur, who will be pushing for the title after successive second and third-placed finishes.

But after that potentially sticky start come five reasonable games by PL standards – Huddersfield (a), West Ham (h), Swansea (a), Stoke (h) and Brighton (a).

We took care of Huddersfield and Brighton last season on their own patches so we can be optimistic of doing it once more.

I, like others, have been waiting with uncomfortable patience for a striker to materialise among the first five signings gathered in because Dwight Gayle is going to need some considerable support.

Harry Redknapp has hailed him and Matt Ritchie as Newcastle’s greatest hopes, which hardly requires more than 20-20 vision, but has surprisingly named Javier Manquillo as Rafa’s best summer signing. We shall see.

There is PL pedigree in the likes of Gayle, Ritchie, Jonjo Shelvey, Rob Elliot and possibly Isaac Hayden but

Dwight Gayle is Newcastle’s biggest goal threat – but who else will share the burden with the ex-Palace star?

Matt Ritchie’s wing play and goals were vital in the Championship but can he replicate that in the top flight for United?