Steve Bruce believes that no team in the Premier League can afford to take anything for granted this season.
Newcastle take on Leicester City this weekend with the Foxes currently occupying third spot in the Premier League after an excellent start to the season.
Bruce's side lost to Norwich City early in August, but the Canaries have since turned over Manchester City, while United's win at Tottenham Hotspur is another example - in the eyes of the Toon boss - that anything can happen this term.
Bruce told the Chronicle: "Everybody in the Premier League now has good players, otherwise you aren't in it.
"And that's whether you are at the top end or the bottom of it.
"The beauty of it is a result like Norwich vs Man City and ours at Spurs.
"That is the beauty of it and the strength of the Premier League is exactly that - how strong it is overall.
"The top six will always be there and we can name them every season.
"Maybe you won't get it in the order you think, but you know the two Manchester sides, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea are always going to be there.
"But the rest is highly competitive and they all have good players."
Bruce will run the rule on Matt Ritchie in the build-up to the clash at Leicester this weekend with the player still recovering from a challenge with Hamza Choudhury.
Bruce said: "Matt Ritchie is edging closer.
"We expected it to be six to eight weeks, but four to six may be better.
"He's only out three or four weeks.
"He's still got a bit to go."
