Sky Sports pundit delivers verdict on Newcastle promotion chances
By Will Butcher
Stuart Pearce is adamant that Newcastle will gain automatic promotion and an instant return to the Premier League this season.
The Toon currently sit at the top of the Championship after promotion rivals Brighton picked up just one point from their last two matches.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Premier League Daily Show on Wednesday (February 8), Pearce was unequivocal in that he believes the Toon will continue to blow away their domestic opponents.
“It is an unforgiving league and you have got to keep going and keep going,” Pearce said. “46 matches and it is a tough league to keep winning in, no easy games.
“However, I think that they have got the tools to get out of this league without a doubt. I think they will go up automatically.”
The Toon have gone through a sticky patch recently in which they have won just once in their last three games.
However, they secured a 1-0 victory over Steve McClaren’s Derby in their last outing and are expected to build on that when they travel to Wolves on Saturday.
Pearce knows all too well the difficulties of England’s second division after a disappointing spell in charge of former side Nottingham Forest that saw him sacked in 2015.
Just 32 games into his spell as Forest boss, Pearce received his marching orders after picking up just 10 wins but is confident that Rafa Benitez will do better and secure an instant return to the top flight.
A win against Wolves could see Benitez and the rest of his Newcastle side go four points clear at the top of the Championship table, if Brighton lose at home to Burton Albion.
In other Newcastle news, Benitez is set to conduct a transfer exodus in the summer with five layers touted to leave.
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