Newcastle United moved a step closer to securing an instant return to the Premier League on Saturday, and they will look to take another big leap to the top flight when they host Burton Albion at St James’ Park tonight.

The Magpies went ten points clear of third-placed Huddersfield Town at the weekend as they beat Wigan Athletic 2-1 on Tyneside, while the Terriers lost 1-0 at home to the Brewers.

That gap was closed to eight points as Reading picked up all three points against Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night, but Rafa Benitez’s men can extend that advantage to eleven points with a victory over Nigel Clough’s men.

The midweek clash will be the Toon’s 40th Championship match in what has been a long and arduous campaign, and Benitez may be tempted to make some changes to his starting line-up in order to keep his team fresh for the crucial run-in.

Here are THREE Newcastle players that must be given a rare start against Burton…

Chancel Mbemba

After making 35 appearances in all competitions for Newcastle last season and at times looking comfortable as a Premier League defender, most Magpies supporters would have expected the 22-year-old to be their first-choice centre-back in the Championship.

It hasn’t quite been the case though and the DR Congo international has made just seven outings in England’s second tier, with his last league appearance coming in November.

The decision by Rafa Benitez to drop the former Anderlecht man came after he put in something of a horror show in a home defeat to Wolves, and he has been just an unused substitute since.

Jesus Gamez

The 31-year-old defender only moved to St James’ Park from Atletico Madrid last summer, but injuries and the form of other players have restricted him to just six appearances in all competitions.

He made just his second start for the club in last month’s 0-0 draw against Reading and he has been a regular member of the matchday squad since then, coming off of the substitutes’ bench in the defeat to Fulham.

After such a frustrating campaign, the Spaniard will hope that he is given an opportunity at right-back under the floodlights.

Aleksandar Mitrovic

The 22-year-old has been more of a first-team regular than the first two names on our list this season under Rafa Benitez, but he has made just six Championship appearances since the start of the year.

The Serbia international has only scored one league goal since October and has fallen behind top goalscorer Dwight Gayle and summer signing Daryl Murphy in the pecking order in recent months.

While the writing may already be on the wall for the striker if the club is promoted, he will hope to get a rare opportunity to prove his worth when Burton visit St James’ Park.