It is a break that has felt like an eternity but we are close to seeing Newcastle United back in Premier League action.

Three weeks after losing to Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James' Park, Newcastle will look to pick up the pieces of a bruising Premier League campaign when they make the difficult trip to South London to take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

The welcome rest period has offered time for reflection, for frustrations to be aired and for unease to fill the air over a number of issues surrounding the club.

Newcastle remain four points adrift of the European places and the aim in their final seven matches of the season has to be to bridge that gap and secure European football next season.

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