RAFAEL BENITEZ thinks his players are made of the right stuff to keep Newcastle United at the top of the Championship – even if the pressure of a promotion charge is new to most of them.

A lot was made before the visit of Wigan about the Magpies’ three-match winless run, as well as the five defeats they have suffered on home soil in the Championship.

However, perhaps more pertinently, Newcastle have lost just one of their last 13 matches in the league to establish a ten- point gap to third with seven matches remaining. It is going to take an almighty collapse to drop out of the top two now.

Benitez is not taking anything for granted in terms of promotion, but does think his squad are showing they have the strength of character to cope.

He said: “In the end we were relegated, so these players don’t have that experience (of being at the top). The players we’ve bought haven’t won trophies, so all the expectations here in front of the fans, we have been top all season more or less, it’s not easy.

“People are saying these players have come from the Premier League – yes, but not from the top of the table, or ones winning the league. These players were in the middle or the bottom of the table, so we had to create an attitude where they play with confidence and winning mentality.”

Newcastle didn’t have it all of their own way against Wigan and Michael Jacobs’ second-half equaliser scared the hosts. In the end the men from Tyneside got the three points courtesy of Dwight Gayle and Matt Ritchie goals.

On Wednesday Newcastle face Burton, who stunned third-placed Huddersfield on Saturday, knowing a second consecutive home victory will lift them another step closer to the top-flight.

Isaac Hayden, who returned to action against Wigan, will be pushing to start ahead of Jack Colback in the middle.

Benitez said: “When you have all the players available you can manage things easier if you see players tiring.

“We have another game soon and it’s good to have fresh legs.”