Benitez sets Newcastle points target he feels will guarantee safety this season

Rafa Benitez thinks that between 36 and 38 points will be enough for Newcastle United to secure Premier League survival this season, as reported by the Guardian.

Speaking before tonight’s trip to Molineux to face an in-form Wolves side, Benitez revealed the tally he feels will be sufficient to keep his Magpies side in the top flight for another season.

Given that Newcastle are currently on 24 points, that means that they need a minimum of four wins from their remaining 13 matches to secure safety.

Fulham and Huddersfield look to be already down, leaving one more relegation spot to avoid and a host of clubs in that dogfight.

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Crystal Palace, Brighton, Burnley, Cardiff and Southampton all join Newcastle in the battle for survival – with just three points separating all six sides after the weekend’s fixtures.

Brighton are on the worst form of the sextet, while Cardiff arguably have the worst quality squad – but produced an exceptional result on Saturday to win at St Mary’s.

That means that four wins and two draws from 13 games looks about right – that fabled 40-point mark may be a bit high in terms of survival this season – and Newcastle’s home form will be imperative if they are to get them.

Wolves will find it a battle to break them down but Newcastle’s success is more likely to be defined by games like the home clash with Huddersfield after that, which Benitez will be looking at as a real opportunity to get one of those four wins.