Newcastle United are in a good position for automatic promotion heading into the final few months of the Sky Bet Championship season.

Rafa Benitez’s side host Aston Villa tonight at St James’ Park, with the focus solely on returning to the top of the Championship table and overtaking Brighton and Hove Albion, who moved above the Magpies with victory over Barnsley on Saturday.

Newcastle fans may be wary of what is going on just behind them in the table, with Huddersfield Town gathering momentum in a bid to make the automatic promotion places.

David Wagner’s side are just five points behind Newcastle, ahead of tonight’s game with Villa, and don’t look like taking their foot off the accelerator in the race for promotion.

Following tonight’s fixture with Villa, Benitez’s side face Bristol City, with what should be another comfortable three-points for Newcastle.

Six-points from their next two fixtures might be vital for Benitez, as his side then face a mammoth task of three away games in the space of a week.

The worrying thing for Newcastle is the calibre of opposition they must face in that week.

They start with a daunting trip to title chasing Brighton, before heading to Yorkshire for a showdown with Huddersfield, then finish with a trip to Play-Off contenders Reading.

Benitez will back his side to pick up points on the road, even against some of the best teams in the division, but will be wary of the damage those teams can do to Newcastle’s promotion hopes.

The Magpies could find themselves behind both Huddersfield and Brighton following those fixtures, which would leave automatic promotion out of their hands and relying on other teams in the division to pick up points against their rivals.

Following that difficult week Newcastle will then face Fulham at St James’ Park. Slavisa Jokanovic’s side have impressed this season and they are looking to break into the Play-Offs.

The Cottagers beat Newcastle on the opening day of the Championship season, and have also recorded impressive victories over Huddersfield and Reading, beating both 5-0.

With a run of daunting fixtures facing Benitez’s side, it is important the Magpies pick up six points form their next two fixtures, to stay ahead of both Huddersfield and Brighton.

The seven days between February 28^th and March 7^th could well and truly define Newcastle’s season.

Newcastle fans… Do you agree you need to pick up six-points from your next two games? Are the upcoming fixtures worrying you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!