RAFAEL BENITEZ thinks Newcastle United are going about earning promotion back to the Premier League the right way – even if he didn’t do the transfer window business he would have preferred.

A failure to land Andros Townsend last week led to frustrations in the manager’s office because he was left with no new signings in January.

Benitez felt a fresh face, ideally two, would have given Newcastle the extra boost in the battle to secure an automatic return to the top-flight.

But victory over Derby County on Saturday reclaimed top spot from Brighton in the race for the title.

Newcastle also hold a six-point cushion to Reading, occupants of the first play-off spot in third, so they are in a position of strength with 17 matches of the season remaining.

And Benitez – whose side started last weekend in second spot - would rather focus on the challenge of finishing in the top two than look back on what Newcastle did or didn’t do in the transfer market last month.

He said: “I think we are in a fantastic position. Imagine at the beginning of the season and someone said, 'Listen, you will be second - one point behind the leader.' You would say, 'Yes.'

“So the team is now in a great position. We could be better - but we could also be a lot worse. Now we have to be strong enough mentally to approach the rest of the season.

“If you have some bad games, you still have to keep going, especially at the end. My feeling is that after deciding to stay last summer, we have done a lot of good things.”

Newcastle are only a point clear of second-placed Brighton. Given the indifferent form recently there is no way that either team can take automatic promotion for granted at this stage.

There has not been a side in the second tier in the last 20 years that has failed to go up if they have amassed 90 points by the end of the season.

With that in mind Newcastle – who have offloaded midfielder Cheik Tiote to Beijing Enterprises - can effectively be certain of promotion by winning ten of their remaining fixtures to take them through that magical barrier.

The likelihood of promotion should strengthen the club’s hand in trying to persuade supporters to renew their season tickets.

Newcastle have announced that existing season ticket holders can take advantage of a price freeze.

It has been confirmed that supporters on long-term price freeze deals will hear their price schedule later this week while those on one-year and half-season deals will be able to renew at the current one-year price later in the season.

Lee Charnley, the managing director, said: "The support from our fans this season has been nothing short of amazing. They have flocked to St James’ Park to support Rafa and the team, in the quest to see us returned to the Premier League.

“We wanted to help repay their incredible loyalty with a price freeze for all existing season ticket holders, meaning the price they’ll pay in 2017/18 will be exactly the same as the price they paid for their 2016/17 season ticket."

Newcastle made reductions in season ticket prices last season for supporters under the age of 18, with a further ten per cent reduction applied across all season tickets when it was confirmed the club would spend 2016/17 in the Championship.

Season ticket holder numbers have since soared close to 38,000, with thousands of new junior supporters taking their places in the stands at St James’ Park to back Benitez and his players in the push for the Premier League.