Newcastle United are well on course to make an instant return to the Premier League and they will be top of the Championship table on Christmas Day.
Despite losing their first two matches of the season in England’s second tier, the Magpies have bounced back well, winning 16 of the subsequent 20 matches, and they lie nine points above third-placed Reading and the play-off positions.
Rafa Benitez’s side are also the top goalscorers in the Championship – netting 45 goals in their 22 games, at a rate of more than two goals-per-game – and there have certainly been some memorable results and strikes within those encounters.
From set-pieces to long-range shots to brilliant team goals, the Toon Army seem to have seen it all this term but only a handful of them could make it onto our shortlist.
Without further ado - and in no particular order - here are FootballFanCast’s FIVE best Newcastle goals of the season so far…
Jonjo Shelvey vs. QPR
The midfielder has scored his fair share of brilliant goals over the years, but this one was very special, and even more satisfying as it came in a crushing 6-0 win over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
When Ayoze Perez laid the ball back to Shelvey just outside the penalty area, there looked to be little on but he then unleashed a curling strike that started about two or three yards outside the far post before bending into the top corner. Sensational.
Dwight Gayle vs. Leeds
We talked beforehand about Newcastle scoring some brilliant team goals, and this was one of those.
The Magpies secured a comfortable 2-0 win against an in-form Leeds side at Elland Road, and their second was one to be remembered.
Matt Ritchie picked up the ball on the right and fed it inside to Jack Colback, who passed it forward to Vurnon Anita.
The Dutchman played a delightful one-two with Ayoze Perez before firing a ball across the six-yard box for Dwight Gayle to finish.
Yoan Gouffran vs. Wolves
Many Newcastle supporters might have expected the Frenchman to be leaving St James’ Park during the summer, but instead he has been one of their most influential attacking players this season.
In the 2-0 win against Wolves, Matt Ritchie broke down the right-hand side before firing in a cross towards the edge of the box.
What happened next was quite brilliant. Gouffran met the ball on the volley and sent an acrobatic effort into the top corner.
Dwight Gayle vs. Reading
Some people may not think that free-kicks should be in a list of best goals, but this one from Newcastle’s top goalscorer was terrific and it narrowly ousted Shelvey’s effort against Brighton from our top five.
25 yards out to the centre of goal, Gayle stepped up and fired a magnificent curling ball into the top right-hand corner of Bartosz Bialkowski’s goal to send the St James’ Park faithful into raptures.
The Magpies fans have a new hero up top.
Ayoze Perez vs. Ipswich
Newcastle seem to have perfected scoring team goals this season and their best to date came after a brilliant start to the match against Ipswich from Rafa Benitez’s men.
From the very first kick-off against the Tractor Boys at St James’ Park, every Magpies player touched the ball – without any of the Town players having possession – and after 23 passes and 59 seconds, Perez expertly volleyed in Yoan Gouffran’s flick-on at the far post. The hosts went on to win 3-0.