Newcastle United will look to step one closer to securing an instant return to the Premier League at the end of the season when they face fellow promotion rivals Reading at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday night.

Rafa Benitez’s men extended their unbeaten run in the Championship to ten matches with a 3-1 victory against Huddersfield Town on Saturday evening, and they are now eleven points ahead of the third-placed Terriers with eleven matches of the campaign left to play.

Matt Ritchie, Daryl Murphy and Dwight Gayle were on the scoresheet at the John Smith’s Stadium in a formidable performance that seemed to signal that it will only be a matter of time until they secure promotion back to the English top flight.

While they are in fantastic form, they could face a tough task in Berkshire against Jaap Stam’s side, who have promotion aspirations of their own as they currently lie in fifth position – eight points behind second-placed Brighton & Hove Albion.

Here are FOUR reasons Newcastle United will beat Reading on Tuesday…

Their form...

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Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez
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If you are coming up against a promotion rival away from home, you would usually expect a tough encounter.

However, with the form the Championship leaders are in, Rafa Benitez’s men will be desperate to get back out on the pitch and they will play with a confidence that reflects the ten-match unbeaten run they are currently on.

The win against Huddersfield on Saturday was the latest in a string of impressive results, and you wouldn’t bet against them picking up another three points at the Madejski Stadium.

Record against promotion rivals

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The match against Reading at the Madejski Stadium ends a tough-looking run of three matches away from home for Newcastle United against their promotion rivals, but they have so far passed the test with flying colours.

A 2-1 win against Brighton & Hove Albion was followed up by the 3-1 success against Huddersfield Town on Saturday, and the Toon will look to make it nine points from nine – moving a step closer to promotion as a result – when they come up against the Royals in Berkshire.

Competition for places

The great thing for Rafa Benitez at the moment is that he knows – especially in attacking areas – he has the options available to him in his squad to know that the players that he sends out on the pitch every week must perform to keep their place in the starting XI.

While Dwight Gayle has been the star man in attack with 21 Championship goals this season, fellow striker Daryl Murphy has scored four goals in his last ten appearances for the Magpies to show the strength in depth in the playing staff.

Goals, goals, goals

Even if Newcastle do concede in their Championship fixtures, Rafa Benitez will be confident that his side – who have scored 69 goals in their 35 games this season, at a rate of nearly two goals-per-match – can outscore their opponents.

With the likes of Dwight Gayle, Daryl Murphy and Matt Ritchie to call upon when it comes to goalscoring, the Spaniard will believe that his team will take another three points on the road – as they did against Brighton and Huddersfield.