Newcastle United’s charge to the Championship title has been as strong as ever post-Christmas, and Toon supporters here in the Transfer Tavern are confident Rafa Benitez is the man to lead them back into the top flight come the end of the season.

With the doubt surrounding his future cleared up for now, fans can concentrate on things on the pitch and as far as supporters here in the pub are concerned, things are looking very good indeed.

Despite drawing against Norwich last weekend, the Magpies’ form continues to show no signs of slipping and many supporters both inside the city and out are confident of bouncing back into the Premier League come May.

And with another game against Bristol City coming up this weekend, fans are confident that they can get another win in front of their own fans.

So with that in mind, here’s the Newcastle XI that Benitez should go with in their game against Bristol City this weekend…

GK: Karl Darlow

Karl Darlow’s continued development is showing no signs of slowing up in the slightest and he’s turning into one of England’s most promising goalkeepers.

Punters here in the Tavern are quietly confident that he has a bright club and international future ahead of him and for the Toon, that is nothing but good news in the slightest.

RB: DeAndre Yedlin

American full-back DeAndre Yedlin brings bags of pace to this Newcastle side and he’s a player that continues to impress in defence.

Going forward, he’s as good as they come at this level and he bombs forward to help out in attack as often as possible.

CB: Jamaal Lascelles

Club captain Jamaal Lascelles is a massive part of this Newcastle back-four and his progress from Nottingham Forest academy graduate to captain of the Toon is seriously impressive.

Bristol City won’t fancy their chances against the Toon and if Lascelles has a good game, they should keep all three points in the North East.

CB: Ciaran Clark

Former Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark has slotted seamlessly into this Newcastle back-four and alongside Jamaal Lascelles, they look like quite the pairing.

He’s showing his former employers why he could turn into one of the best Irish defenders of his generation.

LB: Paul Dummett

Paul Dummett is a mainstay in this Toon side and his consistency in at left-back continues to prove why he’s picked week-in, week-out for the Mapgies.

Fans here in the Tavern have grown to appreciate the local starlet and if his good performances continue then he could be set for a very healthy career indeed.

RM: Matt Ritchie

A summer signing from Bournemouth, Matt Ritchie has quickly turned into one of the most important players in this Newcastle side and his delivery and input from the flanks has been huge.

CM: Jonjo Shelvey

He’s not everyone’s cup of tea off-the-pitch but on it, there’s little doubting the quality that Jonjo Shelvey brings to this Newcastle side.

The former Swansea man brings a real tempo to the midfield and his ability to keep the ball moving has been a big part of Newcastle’s continued success this campaign.

CM: Jack Colback

Alongside the sometimes whirlwind Jonjo Shelvey is Jack Colback. Back from injury, the midfielder brings a solid presence to the middle of the park for the Magpies.

LM: Yoan Gouffran

One of the only remaining French players from the Alan Pardew days, Yoan Gouffran has been fantastic for the Magpies this season and whether he’s been on the flank or upfront, he consistently performs.

His movement and pace is fantastic and he’s certainly the sort of player who could make a difference if they bounce back into the Premier League too.

CAM: Mo Diame

Former Hull City man Mohamed Diame is a fantastic player to have in the push for the Championship title and despite not being a first-team regular, he’s a player with bags of quality and fight.

He’s a burly unit who has had to bide his time throughout this campaign but to freshen things up a little, punters here in the Tavern want to see him return for the game against Bristol City.

ST: Aleksandar Mitrovic

Former Anderlecht man Aleksandar Mitrovic might not be getting 20 goals a season but he’s certainly a fan favourite at St James’ Park and deserves his chance to remain in the first-team.

He’s a powerful unit and deserves the chance to feature further for the side with Dwight Gayle injured.

Thoughts, Newcastle fans? Let us know below!