RAFAEL BENITEZ will head straight to see his medical staff this morning in the hope of hearing some good news regarding leading scorer Dwight Gayle’s fitness after Newcastle United returned to the top of the Championship.

The Magpies moved a point clear of Brighton in the race to the Premier League by claiming a hard-earned 2-0 victory over Steve Bruce’s Aston Villa at St James’ Park.

Yoan Gouffran scored the opening goal three minutes before half-time, then Newcastle suffered frustration when 20-goal striker Gayle had to hobble off down the tunnel with a recurrence of hamstring trouble.

Gayle made his first start since mid-January when he suffered the initial hamstring problem during the win at Brentford and, despite a second half cameo at Norwich a week ago, his return to the side didn’t go as planned.

The £10m man now faces further examination and his manager, whose side face Bristol City at St James’ on Saturday, hopes there will not be another lay-off.

“Dwight was doing well in training. He had a baby last week and some days he was not sleeping,” said Benitez. “Maybe putting everything together and he wasn’t that comfortable from the start.

“We had to make the substitution. It’s the same problem. He’ll miss some games but hopefully it’s not too bad.”

Newcastle claimed their 22nd league win of the season to take pole position once again. They are also eight points clear of third, even though Aston Villa could count themselves unlucky to be behind at the break.

Once Gouffran had converted from close range and Henri Lansbury had helped Jamaal Lascelles’ effort over the line just before the hour, Newcastle cruised to another victory as they look to make a quick return to the top-flight.

Benitez said: “We said before that every game in the Championship is difficult, we were up against a good team with good players and we have to give credit to them.

“Our second goal was important because we could settle and be more dangerous. They have very good players, they can pass, they can run and beat players one v one. At the moment they maybe don’t have the confidence.

“People were asking me about the games we have coming up against Brighton and Huddersfield, but we have to concentrate on every single game first. This was one of those.

“Now we have to be strong enough to get three points in every single game. I have confidence that we can still do it. We have to use the squad and we will enjoy this.”

Villa came down with Newcastle last season and have struggled to recover from relegation.

The victory was made sweeter for the home fans because former Nottingham Forest man Lansbury – who was at the centre of controversial red cards for Jonjo Shelvey and Paul Dummett at the City Ground in December – put the ball into his own net.

Benitez wasn’t bothered who scored, though, and is urging his players just to stay focused on the task of staying in the top two.

He said: “I thought our fans enjoyed watching our team winning, it doesn’t matter anything else; what matters is the teams wins and we did that.”

Benitez added: “You play two games in a week in this division, they are very physical and that is the difference with the Championship.

“You have to have players with experience and the right mentality to approach these games. I think we are doing well and the team is reacting, even after losing the first two games we reacted well. I think we will have the quality and character to do it.”

Villa boss Bruce cut a frustrated figure in the media suite afterwards and admitted his side are in a relegation fight – made worse by the fact £15m striker Scott Hogan had to be stretchered off in the final seconds.

Bruce said: “All in all a very disappointing night for everyone. And the injury to Scott Hogan doesn’t look good. He has gone up for the header and he has turned his ankle over. We will not know the extent of it until tomorrow.

“It’s a nasty one, we will get him back to Birmingham and have him scanned. Fingers crossed. We have had a tough eight weeks, I have not known an eight weeks like it.”

He added: “The situation we are in, of course, we have to accept it, but I am confident we won’t (go down). We have to deal with the situation we are in. I don’t think I have been on a run like this, eight games or whatever it is. We have to hope things will change for us.”