Both Newcastle and Sunderland left it late to guarantee Premier League survival last term, but it’s the Magpies that are expected to make the more significant strides in the forthcoming campaign.

United appointed Steve McClaren as manager and are now 5/1 at Winner.com for the drop, odds that are longer than those chalked against seven other teams.

Only the promoted trio of Watford (3/4, Ladbrokes), Norwich (11/10, bet365), Bournemouth (6/5, Skybet) are given a shorter relegation quote than the 9/4 BetVictor offer for Dick Advocaat’s charges to slip into the Championship. They are however, a reassuringly slender 2/5 at bet365 to stay up again.

Sunderland are an 8/1 shot at Stan James to finish bottom and as bookies are tipping them to struggle, it’s perhaps not surprising that Advocaat is William Hill’s 8/1 third favourite to be the next manager to leave his post, while McClaren’s rated at 33/1 by Skybet.

Both teams are expected to be in the bottom half come May, Paddy Power posting 1/8 against Sunderland and Newcastle at 2/7.

Looking higher up the standings, BetVictor chalk United up at 33/1 to secure a top six finish, Ladbrokes make Advocaat’s men 80/1 in the same market and in bet365’s title betting without the Big Six, the Magpies are 22/1 while Sunderland are 50s.

Newcastle new boy Aleksandar Mitrovic can be backed at 66/1 courtesy of Paddy Power to be the Premier League’s top scorer and BetVictor post 100/1 against Black Cats front man Jermain Defoe claiming the Golden Boot.

Supporters looking to pitch the two teams against each other can back United at 1/2 (William Hill) to finish above Sunderland, who are 15/8 at Paddy Power to end up higher than their rivals.

Middlesbrough missed out on promotion last season, but it’s not surprising that the bookies are giving them plenty of respect this term.

Stan James rate Aitor Karanka’s men as 13/2 second favourites for the Championship title, behind Derby (6/1, bet365) and it’s 9/4 at Winner.com for Boro to go up this time around.

Ladbrokes offer a comfortingly short 3/1 about finishing in the top two, BetVictor chalk them up at 4/6 to secure a top six berth and in Paddy Power’s handicaps, Karanka’s troops receive two points at 18/1.

Hartlepool’s late rally saw them avoid the drop last season and they’re as high as 9/1 (bet365) to be relegated this time around. That doesn’t suggest Ronnie Moore’s team will be in too much trouble but they’re also not tipped to make an impact at the summit, Skybet making them 40/1 to clinch top spot and bet365 marking 9/2 against Pools landing at least a play-off place.

Odds supplied by www.betrescue.com

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