After the bitter disappointment of relegation from the Premier League last season, Newcastle United are starting to look like a force to be reckoned with.

They currently sit top of the Championship after 15 games; three points clear of second-placed Brighton and six adrift of Huddersfield in third.

A re-promotion seems an inevitability considering the amount of talent that Rafael Benitez has at his disposal.

In every position, they have players who Premier League teams would glance at with envy.

It was a travesty that they were relegated with the players they had but an immediate return looks likely and they will return a stronger outfit under Rafa Benitez.

The Magpies managed to keep most of their best players at the club in the summer despite widespread interest from Premier League clubs and that will be their challenge again in January.

This season hasn't been all plain-sailing, though, and there have been a few rocky moments on their path to the top of the league.

Here are the THREE moments that Newcastle fans will want to put behind them this season.

Two games, two losses

Newcastle and Fulham kickstarted the Championship season with a Friday night clash at Craven Cottage.

Much of the build-up focused on the quality of the Newcastle side but a Matt Smith header just before the break was enough to earn the home side a 1-0 victory.

Newcastle, still seemingly shellshocked from their opening day loss, then fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to Huddersfield.

This left them with no points after two games and the alarm bells were ringing around St. James' Park.

Wolves issue a wake-up call

Needless to say, Newcastle turned things around after the early blip and went on to win the next six games in all competitions.

During that period, they conceded just one goal (from the penalty spot) and scored seventeen.

This was the Newcastle that everyone expected and they welcomed struggling Wolves to St. James' Park having just thrashed QPR 6-0 away from home.

Confidence was sky high but maybe a bit of complacency kicked in as Wolves returned home with three points, following a fantastic 2-0 win for the Midlands outfit.

This was a wake-up call for Benitez and his squad; life in the Championship was not that easy after all.

Rolando in trouble

Things have gone smoothly on the pitch since that loss to Wolves, though, and a 1-1 draw away at Aston Villa has been the only occasion in which the Magpies have failed to pick up all three points.

Off-the-field, however, promising young winger Rolando Aarons was arrested.

The England youth international was arrested for violent disorder following a brawl in a club in Newcastle.

Benitez will not have been pleased with this story emerging about his 20-year-old prodigy as Rolando Aarons should be focusing on securing a regular starting spot in the team.