NEWCASTLE UNITED could secure a return to the Premier League by the end of the Easter fixture programme, with Rafael Benitez adamant everyone connected with the club deserves enormous credit to be in such a lofty position at this stage of the season.

The Magpies follow up tonight’s visit of promotion-chasing Leeds United at St James’ Park by travelling to Ipswich Town on Monday. By the time the full-time whistle has blown at Portman Road, a top two place may have been secured if other results go their way.

Newcastle head into the game with Leeds sitting ten points clear of the play-off zone with only five games remaining.

And he thinks Leeds’ long-term struggle to realign the finances following relegation from the Premier League in 2004 – and other clubs’ similar struggles since falling into the second tier – highlights how difficult it is to adjust to the Championship.

Benitez said: "I will say, credit to these players and credit to everyone. It's not easy. You cannot say 'they were spending'. You see other teams were spending.

“I will not name anyone but you see one that was spending more than us. We made profit and are in a good position. I will say that we have to give credit to the players. We have to finish our job.”

Leeds head into tonight’s game 12 points shy of the top two. Under Garry Monk they have turned things around and become a contender for a Premier League return 13 years after dropping out.

He said: "Leeds show how difficult the division is and how difficult it is to be where we are. You have the stats. The last five years, the fifth and the fourth ... none of the teams that were relegated were promoted.

"Three years before, just one team was promoted in the play-offs. Two years (ago), one team in the play-offs and the last year one in the play-offs and one straight (promotion). So that means, in five years, it is proved that it is very difficult.

"We are in a very good position. I will say again, you see where Aston Villa and Norwich are. It's a massive difference to have your team ready like Brighton or Sheffield Wednesday.

"Some of your players go. The players that you have are good players, but not the players at the top of the table that were making the difference. To put everything together and still perform at this level, you have to give credit to these players.”

Benitez revealed leading scorer Dwight Gayle will not figure against Leeds or Ipswich while he recovers from a hamstring injury not deemed serious. Ciaran Clark is nearing a return after a month out with calf trouble. Those two are the only players left on the treatment table.

Aleksandar Mitrovic is battling with Daryl Murphy to lead the line against Leeds and Benitez has admitted the prospect of leading a promotion charge back to the Premier League, for the supporters who he has a rapport with, was what persuaded him to stay on last summer.

He said: "I decided to stay because of the fans and the stature of the club. We will play top sides in the future in the Premier League hopefully, touch wood.

“You have to accept the challenge (of the Championship) but this city, this club, they deserve to be in the Premier League. But we have to do it. On Friday we have a chance to play against a very good team and a big club, so it's very good for everyone.

"We are going this way (gestures upwards) but we still have to improve things. It's very clear we have plenty of room for improvement. We're fine but still we have to improve. We can improve a lot of things.”

After the defeat at Sheffield Wednesday last weekend there have been a few more nerves even if the position is still a strong one. He admitted, though, that just going up is the priority even if it would be nice to pip Brighton in the race for the title.

Benitez said: "We had to work so hard and quick to turn things round really quickly. We had to sell really well to have some money for buying new players but we still had to pay some (big) money for players.

“In some cases the value could be less but we still had to pay this money because we needed to sign the player. With Matt Ritchie, Lee Charnley (managing director) was phoning me to say the 'price is that' and we were not expecting that.

“I was saying, 'please', he is an important player, he has experience, we have to do it we cannot be worrying about a couple of million when we are in this position where we have to get out of this division.

“That means you have to spend more than we were expecting but I think we did really well and have a good team and we are making a profit (from player sales) so everything was perfect. Hopefully it will be perfect again.”

Benitez’s efforts on the transfer front – without adding to his squad in January – has worked so far, and he is convinced they can finish off the job they have started despite an increase in pressure at the business end of the season.

He said: “We are close so we have a chance to do something important for the fans, the club and the city. People will remember how we got promoted so I think it's important now for them (the players) to have this in mind.

"I don't need to give them (the players) any warnings. It's just I try to encourage them in a positive way because we are doing really well in the season and now it's more important to be careful (not to slip up)."