Newcastle: How are the Magpies' Championship promotion rivals shaping up?

The Magpies boast a one-point lead over second-placed Brighton, and a six-point advantage over third-placed Reading, who have played a game more.

Promotion is well within their grasp, but how do their leading rivals currently stack up against them? And who might push them closest ahead of their final game at the start of May?

NEWCASTLE (Played 29, Points 62)

Recent league form: WDWWL

Three key games: Feb 28, Brighton (a); Mar 7, Reading (a); Apr 15, Leeds (h).

Newcastle boast the best players in the Championship, the most experienced manager and by far the deepest squad. As a result, it would be a major surprise if they were to throw away the advantage they have built up.

Dwight Gayle’s impending return from injury should provide a major boost in the attacking third, with Christian Atsu’s return from the Africa Cup of Nations ensuring some welcome competition in the wide positions. Jonjo Shelvey is head and shoulders above anyone else in the division on his day, while the size of Newcastle’s squad means three or four injuries should not derail their promotion hopes.

They cannot afford to take anything for granted, with their tally of four home defeats suggesting they are not impregnable at St James’. However, they remain strong favourites to go up. They travel to Brighton, Huddersfield and Reading in a seven-day spell at the end of February and beginning of March. Survive that, and they will surely be promoted.

BRIGHTON (Played 29, Points 61)

Recent league form: DLWWL

Three key games: Feb 28, Newcastle (h); Mar 18, Leeds (a); Apr 22, Norwich (a).

Chris Hughton’s side have been neck-and-neck with Newcastle for most of the campaign. They still look like being the Magpies’ closest competitors at the top of the table, but their recent wobble is a cause for concern. Having missed out on a top-two place on goal difference last season, are the Seagulls going to falter with the finishing line in sight again?

Their leading players could do with rediscovering their best form quickly. Glen Murray has gone six games without a goal, while Anthony Knockaert has only scored in one of his last six matches. Of more significance, however, is Brighton’s injury list, and the lack of depth within the squad is a worry. Hughton cannot afford too many problems in the next couple of months.

Dale Stephens and Sam Baldock should return when Brighton host Burton tomorrow, in a game they will expect to win. Their five-point gap over Reading is a decent enough cushion, and they remain strong favourites to accompany Newcastle into the top-flight.

READING (Played 30, Points 56)

Recent league form: DWWWL

Three key games: Feb 25, Brighton (a); Mar 7, Newcastle (h); Apr 1, Leeds (h)

If it is not to be Newcastle and Brighton heading into the Premier League this season, perhaps it will be Reading? Jaap Stam’s side didn’t look to have any hope of promotion when they conceded four at St James’ Park in August, but a run of nine wins in the space of 11 games at the end of last year transformed their hopes.

They will need a similar kind of run to overhaul either of the current top two, particularly as they have played a game more than both of them, but their impressive home record at the Madejski means they cannot be written off.

They have only suffered two home defeats all season, and are due to host Newcastle and Leeds before the end of the campaign. Win those games, and they will have half a chance, although they are probably going to need either Yann Kermorgant or Garath McCleary to double their current goalscoring tally in the games that remain.

HUDDERSFIELD (Played 29, Points 55)

Recent league form: WWWLW

Three key games: Mar 4, Newcastle (h); Apr 4, Norwich (h); Apr 17, Derby (a)

They started like a house on fire, only to suffer a major wobble in October and November. However, Huddersfield have been back on track since the turn of the year, and can claim to be the most in-form side in the Championship at the moment.

Last weekend’s dramatic win over Leeds followed hot on the heels of an authoritative victory over Brighton, and David Wagner has successfully addressed the issues that saw the Terriers cede a top-two spot in the autumn. Nahki Wells is likely to be key to their hopes, although Elias Kachunga is one of the most under-rated forwards in the Championship.

Of all the teams battling for promotion, Huddersfield can claim to have the easiest run-in. Their toughest games are at home, and they only have to face two teams in the current top six. Their ongoing interest in the FA Cup could become a distraction, but their recent form suggests they are capable of being a threat.

LEEDS (Played 30, Points 54)

Recent league form: LWWLW

Three key games: Mar 18, Brighton (h); Apr 1, Reading (a); Apr 15, Newcastle (a)

Of all the teams involved in the promotion picture, Leeds were the least likely participants when the season began last August. Garry Monk has done superbly at Elland Road though, and for the first time in a long while, Leeds are viable promotion contenders.

Whether they are consistent enough to force their way into the top two is a moot point, but in the in-form Chris Wood, they boast the Championship’s second-highest scorer behind Gayle. If Wood continues to score as he has since Christmas, Leeds will be hard to beat.

They boast plenty of attacking options, although their regular defensive lapses will have to be ironed out if they are to string together the kind of sequence that will be required for an automatic promotion spot. If nothing else, their trip to Tyneside in mid-April should be an atmospheric affair.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (Played 29, Points 49)

Recent league form: WDLWD

Three key games: Feb 25, Leeds (a); Mar 17, Reading (h); Apr 8, Newcastle (h)

If Sheffield Wednesday win their game in hand, they will close to within two points of Leeds. That would greatly strengthen their play-off hopes, but still leave them ten points behind Newcastle, having played a game more. As a result, it is hard to see the Owls making the top two, as is the case with Norwich and Derby, who lie just beneath them.

Wednesday’s promotion hopes were nevertheless boosted on deadline day, when they shelled out £10m to sign Jordan Rhodes. It didn’t work for Rhodes at Middlesbrough, but once he gets up to speed, he should guarantee Championship goals.

Newcastle’s trip to Hillsborough at the start of April will be instructive, but Wednesday’s run-in is tricky as they face Derby and Fulham in their last three matches.