Loss is a gain for Paul

PAUL DUMMETT says relegation may have been a blessing in disguise for Newcastle.

Rafa Benitez’s men take on big rivals Leeds tonight at a sold-out St James’ Park.

Three points could leave Newcastle one win away from rejoining the Premier League.

While a season in the Championship has cost the Magpies millions, defender Dummett, right, said: “Relegation could have been a blessing in disguise. It has helped turn things around. Hopefully we’re on the up.

“Obviously it was very disappointing to be relegated and, as a Newcastle fan, it felt even worse.

“My first few seasons here were really tough because we weren’t doing well and it was quite negative, so a year in the Championship has maybe done us no harm.

“Being part of a winning team is totally different. The feeling around the club, the city, everywhere is better. “For me, there’s no getting away from it because all my friends and family want to talk about is football. But whereas last year was hard, now people have good things to say.” Dummett wants to go up as champions, saying: “Of course the title matters.” NOTTINGHAM Forest rookie striker Ben Brereton is backing new boss Mark Warburton to bring back the glory days to the club.

Brereton was named the Championship’s Apprentice of the Year at the EFL Awards and has become a key player in Forest’s survival bid.

Warburton has been at Forest less than a month but Brereton, 17, said: “The new boss has come in and been fantastic to me and all the squad.

“He has told us what we’re going to do, how we’re going to do it and even what we’re going to do next season.”