The 2018/19 Premier League fixtures were announced on Thursday morning, and Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez and Magpies fans would have been quick to scan through and see not only when they were facing the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United, but also when they had both favourable and unfavourable runs on paper.

If the Tyneside outfit are to build upon the impressive 10th-place finish they secured last term, their Spanish boss will know that his team need to get off to a good start to go a few places better next time out.

With the squad they currently have – and with a few quality additions if owner Mike Ashley gives his manager a reasonable budget – the Toon, whose fans have been quick to have their say on a link to a £13.5m-rated attacker with one describing him as "the new Andy Carroll", certainly have the capabilities to make a real push for a top-seven finish and compete with the likes of Everton, West Ham United and Leicester City.

[brid autoplay="true" video="255847" player="12034" title="Watch Newcastle's opening fixtures for the 201819 Premier League season"]

A look through the fixture list quickly highlights when Benitez and his men need to be on their game if they are to achieve their aims. Here are the three months that will decide Newcastle's 2018/19 season…

Given they face five of the clubs – Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United – in their opening eight fixtures, Newcastle could well be playing catch-up as they head towards the busy festive period if they fail to pick up positive results in those games.

November certainly looks to be a great opportunity to pick up a maximum nine points from the nine available, as they have home clashes against Watford and Bournemouth at St James' Park before they face a trip to Burnley at the end of the month, who may well have the distraction of Europa League football if they are reach the group stages.

Following on from November, Newcastle look to have another favourable run on paper during a busy December sequence of seven fixtures that could easily make or break a season.

Home matches against West Ham United and then promoted duo Wolverhampton Wanderers and Fulham are combined with trips to Everton, Huddersfield Town, Liverpool and Watford, and while the Reds will undoubtedly be tough opponents, the others are certainly beatable and of course anything can happen with so many matches in such a short period.

If Newcastle still have plenty to play for at the climax of the 2018/19 campaign in terms of a securing a top-half finish or battling against the drop, then April could prove to be a crucial month.

They have four very winnable fixtures on paper as they host Crystal Palace and Southampton at St James' Park, combined with trips to Leicester City and Brighton and Hove Albion.

Benitez will know that his team are more than capable of taking 12 points from 12 in those games, and that sequence of matches could easily allow the Spaniard and his men to achieve their aims.

Do you agree, Newcastle fans? Let us know below.