The past few weeks of Premier League football have only justified why it's the best league in the world. A title race and relegation battle that's set to go to the wire, while Newcastle United have defied the history books and are on the brink of survival.
Not only that, they're closing in on a top-half finish. A statement which you would have laughed at prior to December.
The odds looked stacked against Eddie Howe's side at one point but they've defied those odds and will be looking to continue their fine run of form heading into the final few games of the season. Callum Wilson has already given an insight into thee Magpies' dressing room mentality ahead of the run in, while Emil Krafth said there were six cup finals left to play prior to the win over Crystal Palace.
READ MORE: Callum Wilson reveals brilliant Newcastle United dressing room insight into end of season approach
The mentality is there, but the Magpies know they must spring a few upsets in their final few fixtures if they are serious about a top-half finish. Newcastle still have to play Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal before the curtain falls on the campaign.
If previous results are anything to go by, Newcastle are in for a tough run of games. Liverpool and Man City are locked in a title battle, while Mikel Arteta's Arsenal are in a fight for fourth place. If the Magpies are able to pick up wins in their other two fixtures they're in serious contention for the top-half.
Their ascent has hardly gone under the radar of the teams above them, but they're level on points with Brighton and a point behind Leicester, both of whom had a shout at European football at one point this season. The latter of those two does boast games in hand on the Magpies, while Brighton have a somewhat favourable run in compared to Howe's side.
Newcastle have shown in the past they can pick up points against the big boys in the division and need a repeat of that in the coming weeks. Of course, not finishing in the top-half is not the end of the world, but, it would give them a brilliant platform to build on next year, coupled with new summer arrivals.
