RAFAEL BENITEZ has urged Newcastle United’s players to keep winning but is looking out for any signs of complacency that could creep into his team's play.

The Magpies climbed into the Championship's top two with a victory at Derby County on Saturday night and they head for Queens Park Rangers tomorrow looking to preserve that place.

But Benitez has done his homework and knows teams in the past who have started the campaign well in the second tier have fallen away, so wants Newcastle’s strong squad to maintain their standards.

He said: “It’s easy to carry on with the positive atmosphere when we are winning, it is easy for the fans. They have to enjoy it, but at the same time the message is very clear, nothing is done yet so we have to keep working hard and in the same way.

“They have to keep playing with the same intensity. Last season Hull had a fantastic start to the season and then they had problems, ended in the play-offs. We have to carry on and enjoy it. They need to stay concentrated and work hard.”

Newcastle have a couple of minor problems on the injury front following the win at Derby and Benitez hinted he will freshen things up.

And he knows QPR can be a force to be reckoned with in the Championship, where they sit just below the play-offs and within two points of Newcastle.

Benitez, who suggested he will take Daryl Murphy and Christian Atsu to London even if they don’t figure, said: “QPR are very difficult because it is hard to beat them.

"They have pace, they have strong players, can score from set pieces, are a good team and are scoring goals. We have to be confident. We don’t have too many injuries, the same as before, nothing serious just a couple of knocks.

“We have to approach every game as though it is the most important of the season. If we can carry on doing the same then I will be pleased. The main thing is we have concentrate and we have to approach the game with the right mentality.”