Newcastle entertain Ipswich this weekend as they seek to keep their good run of form going.
Newcastle have won 8 of their last 10 games, in a run which has seen them hit the Championship summit.
Newcastle are looking to bounce back at the first time of asking and after a shaky start, they now look to have adapted to life back in the Sky Bet Championship.
After last season's disastrous Premier League campaign, Newcastle aren't showing any signs of suffering a relegation hangover and have got off to the start everyone expected them to.
Newcastle lost Townsend and Wijnaldum in the summer but re-invested their money wisely, recruiting Championship experience in Matt Ritchie, Dwight Gayle and Ciaran Clark.
In Dwight Gayle, the Magpies have a proven Championship goal scorer and he currently has 11 goals in as many games.
Gayle was the difference on Tuesday night when Newcastle beat Barnsley 2-0 at Oakwell to send them to the top of the league.
If Newcastle play this 4-2-3-1 formation, they will definitely beat Ipswich on Saturday......
GK: Karl Darlow
Darlow signed for the Magpies in August 2014 and was loaned straight back to Nottingham Forest.
Darlow has been playing for Newcastle since their 4-3 victory over Norwich in September.
At 26, Darlow is still quite young for a goalkeeper and has no doubt got a few years ahead of him at Newcastle.
He has kept two clean sheets in his last three and will be hoping to get another one on Saturday.
RB: Vurnon Anita
The Dutchman is a centre midfielder by trade but has recently been playing at right back.
With Newcastle's quality in centre midfield, he is unlikely to play there and he is arguably Newcastle's best right back, so he is likely to retain his place at right back against Ipswich.
CB: Ciaran Clark
Clark signed from Aston Villa in the summer and has been playing well of late.
He already has two goals to his name, a good return for a centre back, which shows he has more to his game than just defending.
With Clark's current form, he should start the game against Ipswich.
CB: Jamaal Lascelles
Lascelles signed for the Magpies in August 2014 and was loaned straight back to Nottingham Forest as part of the deal.
Lascelles has established himself as Newcastle's 1st choice centre half and is now the club's captain.
Lascelles is only 22 so still has plenty of learning in front of him, but he is being guided by one of the best in Rafael Benitez.
LB: Paul Dummett
Dummett is a product of the Newcastle Academy and he has now established himself as the club's first choice left back.
Dummett is one of the first names on the team sheet at Newcastle after his recent performances, but most of his work probably goes un noticed due to Dwight Gayle taking most of the plaudits.
Dummett will most likely be starting on Saturday against Ipswich
CM: Jonjo Shelvey
Shelvey was a January arrival from Swansea City and was made stand in captain for the end of last season.
Shelvey seems to be very comfortable in the Championship and should Newcastle fail to get promotion, you would expect Shelvey would return to the Premier League.
The Newcastle team isn't the same when Shelvey doesn't play, so I would expect him to be starting this weekend.
CM: Isaac Hayden
Hayden was another of Benitez's summer signings and he has developed a good partnership with Shelvey.
Hayden likes to keep possession and he is a very tidy player.
He isn't scared to put a foot in either and will always give his all for the team.
His partnership with Shelvey could be key over the course of the season if Newcastle are to go up.
He also has promotion experience with Hull, so he can bring plenty of advice to the dressing room.
LM: Matt Ritchie
This signing surprise many, with Matt Ritchie stepping down from Premier League, Bournemouth to come and play in the Championship.
Ritchie is a very good player at Championship level and can create chances for himself or for team mates.
Ritchie also possesses quality delivery from set pieces, which could be a source of goals for Newcastle with players like Clark and Lascelles in the box.
Without Ritchie in the team, Newcastle would lose a key creative threat.
CAM: Mohamed Diame
Diame was another player who took the step down from Premier League to Championship to come and play for Newcastle.
The creative attacking midfielder scored the winning goal in last season's Play-Off final, which saw Hull gain promotion.
His promotion experience could come in key for Newcastle later in the season if they are going into a run of big games.
He possesses the ability to glide past players in midfield and create something out of nothing, as we saw in the Play-Off final.
RM: Yoan Gouffran
Gouffran joined Newcastle in 2013 and is close to gaining 100 appearances for the club.
Gouffran has had a good start to the season and he will hope to carry his form into the Ipswich game.
He could potentially be a big player for Newcastle this year, his creativity out wide could cause lots of teams problems and with Dwight Gayle in the box, the Magpies have someone to convert the chances.
Gouffran has been reborn under Rafael Benitez after being well down the pecking order before Benitez came in.
ST: Dwight Gayle
Gayle has hit the ground running at Newcastle since joining them in summer from Crystal Palace.
He has 11 goals in as many games, making him the top scorer in the Championship so far.
Gayle will be hoping to continue his fine form against Ipswich by adding to his tally.
With creative players surrounding him, from midfield and out wide, Gayle will never be short of chances at Newcastle.
Newcastle's promotion hopes are likely to hinge of whether Gayle can stay fit and keep scoring goals, if he can, they are certainly in a good position to gain promotion.