Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez is expecting Saturday’s opponents Huddersfield Town to raise their game, when the two clubs meet in the Sky Bet Championship, reports the Chronicle Live.

Benitez’s side returned to the top of the Championship table on Tuesday night, where late goals from Mo Diame and Ayoze Perez, defeated Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.

The Magpies now face another difficult week when they face David Wagner’s Huddersfield on Saturday evening, before travelling to the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday night to play Reading.

The Terriers are currently third in the Championship table, looking to close a six-point gap to the automatic promotion places, and Benitez believes Huddersfield will be ready for their clash with Newcastle, he said: “We always have the same pressure in games. People think: ‘Oh it’s Newcastle United we have to give everything’. Huddersfield and Reading will do that.

“But we have confidence as we know we can do well.”

Huddersfield look to be the only side capable of catching Newcastle or Brighton in the race for automatic promotion, and impressed in a recent victory over the Seagulls.

Wagner’s side did lose ground on the top-two last weekend, when they were held to a 1-1 draw with Barnsley at Oakwell.

Victory over Huddersfield on Saturday will see Benitez’s side maintain their place at the top of the Championship table, but also create an 11-point gap between themselves and third place.

Newcastle fans… Will victory on Saturday secure your club a place in the Premier League next season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!