HAVING successfully overcome one relegation rival at the weekend, Newcastle United need to repeat the trick this evening to continue their scramble away from the bottom end of the table.

Beating Burnley at St James’ Park tonight would further ease Magpies’ concerns about being sucked into the bottom three, the prospect of which decreased by seeing off Huddersfield Town on Saturday.

Their 2-0 win looks closer on paper than it did on grass, Newcastle having dominated proceedings against the bottom-of-the-table opposition and having 29 shots on goal, yet it was 0-0 at the break.

Salomon Rondon put Newcastle ahead early in the second half, and Swiss defender Fabian Schar admitted: “For 45 minutes it was 0-0 and we didn’t score. In this game you have to be patient and not lose focus.

“You know you want to score and you need to score, and the goal just after half-time was important for us.

“Before the game we spoke a lot about how important this game is. Playing at home against teams that are around you in the table, you have to win.

“That is why we wanted to win and I am very proud of the team.”

Facing another team close to them in the table, Newcastle are sure to face sterner opposition this evening.

They play a rejuvenated Burnley team one place and two points ahead.

On Saturday they stunned stunted Tottenham Hotspur’s title aspirations, winning 2-1 at Turf Moor, a victory that made it eight league games unbeaten, the club’s longest top-flight streak since 1966.

The Magpies are on a revival of their own, winning their last three home league games, but they are a long way from considering themselves safe from the drop.

“You never know what’s going to happen, there’s still some games to play,” added Schar.

“We have seen in the past weeks that the teams at the bottom can all win, it is not finished yet so we have to keep working hard and doing things like Saturday.

“It is great to play in front of our fans, they can push us a lot. We always want to give them something and the last few games have gone quiet well. We try to do keep doing that.

“We have an important game on Tuesday and try to do the same as Saturday.

“We don’t look too much at the table, but we know how important Tuesday’s game is, not only for us but for Burnley as well. I think it is a big chance for both teams.

“It will be a tough game but we are playing at home and we want to keep the three points.”

Saturday’s win meant Newcastle completed a league double over Huddersfield for the first time since 1964-65, and it is even further back that the Magpies last beat Burnley home and away.

Not since 1954-55 and the days of Jackie Milburn have they taken maximum points off Burnley twice in a season, but they have the opportunity of doing so this evening having won 2-1 at Turf Moor in November.

Ciaran Clark scored the winner on that evening, but the defender remains sidelined

Following Saturday’s showing, Rafael Benitez is unlikely to make changes this evening, meaning again no place for Jonjo Shelvey.

He is available again after recovering from a thigh, but was not among the 18 at the weekend.

The manager said: “My problem now is that the players who aren't in the team have put me under pressure to make decisions.

“It’s a pity but obviously you can pick only 18 players and some have to wait. Jonjo, we’ll see. Obviously the match fitness is an issue at this stage.”

Miguel Almiron caught the eye on his full debut against Huddersfield Town, and the £21m man’s pace is sure to make him an asset.

“We have some pace in front, not only him,” pointed out Schar. “He has only been here for two or three weeks and he knows what run he has to do, he is an intelligent player and with his pace and he can do a lot of things.

“We have seen since his first day he has some qualities and he can be a very important player for us.

“He made a really good debut at home. He didn’t score, he was a little unlucky but we could see his qualities and hopefully he can help us in the next few games.”