The Magpies must be enjoying life at the minute with the club proudly sitting at the top of the Championship table.

This league position has vindicated all the transfer business that was done last summer by manager Rafa Benitez to make sure there was an instant return to the top flight for Newcastle.

They could be relaxing in the final month of the season to some extent when they can be satisfied with an automatic promotion spot.

Until then, the boss will want to get the job done in a frantic April as games come thick and fast.

But when they looking back on the 2016/17 campaign, they will have cherished every moment and enjoyed it as one of the most successful years in the club's recent history, despite it being a division below expectations.

That won't be the case for Benitez, however, who has made some really harsh decisions and they would have impacted the careers of several players, who have been shocked for being out of the team.

These 2 Newcastle players are getting nowhere near the starting XI whilst Rafa Benitez is in charge...

Chancel Mbemba

Chancel Mbemba has shockingly been dropped by Benitez this season in the heart of defence, perhaps because he wasn't able to follow instructions following the Wolverhampton Wanderers defeat back in September.

The 22-year-old has made just one league appearance since then and that came in the defeat at home to Blackburn Rovers; he has also been on international duty with DR Congo at the African Cup of Nations.

It seems the centre-back's disappearance from the starting XI hasn't been helped with the emergence of summer arrival Grant Hanley, which is surprising considering Mbemba was a prominent member of the first-team last year.

Rob Elliot

Rob Elliot, 30, has always been down the pecking order for goalkeepers on Tyneside and that has proved to be the case again this season having failed to play a single game so far this year.

The former Charlton Athletic man joined the Magpies back in 2011 but has made just a handful of appearances, mostly as a replacement for any injuries.

It's obvious that Rafa Benitez doesn't rate Elliot and I think being third-choice means he won't get anywhere near the starting XI unless there happens to be a goalkeeping crisis at Newcastle United.

 

Newcastle fans, what's your thoughts? Will either of these get near the starting XI again? Who else is in this current situation? Give us your opinions in the comments below!