​Newcastle United are turning one of their biggest weaknesses - their illusive away form - into a massive strength, and that bodes well going into the new season, after Rafa Benitez's charges strolled to stunning 6-0 away win at QPR.





Last season, the Magpies seldom picked up any points away from home - but now they're strolling onto other team's turf, rubbing their faces into the dirt and traveling back up north with a bag full of swag.





The result on Tuesday night, in which five different players got themselves on the score sheet, was exactly what the doctor ordered going into the fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers at home on Saturday.

Shelvey's goal for Newcastle earlier 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/977bM5kZ1Z — THE LFC POLL (@TheLFCPoll) 13 September 2016

It will also give manager Rafa Benitez the best type of selection headache; one where all of his players are doing well enough to warrant their inclusion in the starting XI. Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrovic got the nod ahead of Mohamed Diame and Dwight Gayle, and both found the net.





That leaves Benitez with some thinking to do. Gayle has scored four goals already this campaign, but Mitrovic has shown what he can do now - while Diame has been preferred behind the striker. But with Perez performing well recently, could the Spaniard give him another chance?





This result also sends a signal to the rest of the league that Newcastle mean business. After losing their first two games of the Championship campaign, some fans were worried that the club might languish outside of the top two. This, along with the last five results, puts that firmly to bed.





And perhaps even more impressively, the team has now not conceded a goal for five games and has hit the back of the net 13 times in the process. Key players like Jonjo Shelvey are coming into their best form, while surprise packages such as Isaac Hayden continue to impress.





All of a sudden Benitez has a lot of options on his hands, and the starting XI can be mixed up to suit the opposition and their style of play. Mitrovic can help the side go more direct, while Gayle can bring about a more patient build-up play.





With Matt Ritchie and Christian Atsu on the wings, there is real threat from the wide areas as well. The result will give the team huge confidence going into the season, and now is the time to savour that.

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