RAFAEL BENITEZ thinks the English Football League has risked unnecessary controversy ahead of a round of fixtures that could end with Newcastle United being assured of a place in the Premier League.

If results go the Magpies’ way today when Huddersfield face play-off chasing Fulham and Reading take on Nottingham Forest then promotion will be guaranteed if Benitez’s side can overcome Preston on Monday night.

The EFL have named Huddersfield-born Andrew Madley as the man in the middle for the Newcastle game and the Tyneside club have voiced their concerns to the league chiefs.

Madley is reportedly a Huddersfield fan and the Terriers can climb to within four points of Newcastle by beating Fulham today, plus they will have a game in hand after Monday’s action.

The 33-year-old has previously officiated in three of Newcastle’s games this season and none of those were marred by controversy; the 2-2 draw with Norwich, a 6-1 win over Preston in the EFL Cup and the 4-1 victory over Reading.

Nevertheless, given the timing of the fixture and what is at stake, Benitez does not think the appointment was wise, even if he does not have any problem with Madley.

Benitez said: “In Spain this thing doesn’t happen when you have a referee from a city that is more or less close in the table. Normally they don’t referee those games.

“We were asking (the EFL) and they say that they are happy with that and we have to carry on. We don’t have any problem. We will do our best to avoid a situation that nobody will understand.

“We are not complaining about the referees in the press conference or interviews or whatever. We have something to say and the fans will realise we try to do what we have to do.”

The concerns Newcastle have raised to the league this week have also been at a time when Benitez has written a letter of congratulations to former St James’ Park boss Chris Hughton.

Brighton are guaranteed promotion to the Premier League and a windfall to the tune of around £200m next season alone, and Benitez has been quick to acknowledge the success of one of his predecessors.

He said: “I was congratulating him but now is not the time to meet up with him. I will meet him sometime because of manager meetings or whatever. Hopefully we meet again next year in the Premier League!”

Newcastle know this could be the weekend they join Brighton in securing a top two place, but that will rest on whether Fulham can stop Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium. The Cottagers are in need of the points themselves for a play-off spot.

Slight worries have emerged in the last few weeks after a poor run of form at the wrong time, with the defeat at Ipswich on Monday the third game in a row Newcastle have failed to win.

Benitez said: “It’s very clear. My message from the first training session this week was to concentrate on our job, to focus on how we played against Leeds. If we play like that we can beat anyone.

“People are talking at home, on social media, then for the media to sell web pages or newspapers, but it depends on us. What we have to do. We have to be lucky sometimes and we just have to focus on our jobs, not what the other teams are doing.”

Benitez has ruled out leading scorer Dwight Gayle again because of injury, while Ciaran Clark is available again and could slot straight back in alongside Jamaal Lascelles.

The latter was named in the PFA team of the year along with Gayle and Jonjo Shelvey, even though the young captain has had his problems during a largely positive season.

Benitez said: “These nominations I don’t worry about it. To do it five games before the end of the season makes no sense. Lascelles has improved a lot, he can improve even more.”