Get the FREE Mirror Football newsletter by email with the day's key headlines and transfer news Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Winning the Championship is no mean feat, even if your CV already boasts Champions League, Europa League, La Liga and FA Cup victories.

English football’s second tier can be a graveyard for fallen Premier League giants. If you don’t get out of it at the first attempt, you can get sucked in and be stuck there for years to come.

That’s why Rafa Benitez will be enthused by what his Newcastle team have achieved and why Mike Ashley, the Magpies' owner, will be re-enthused that the good times are back on Tyneside just 12 months after life had looked so bleak.

(Image: Getty)

Now we will see a game of brinkmanship between the two men as boss Benitez seeks total control — a game in which he will be telling Ashley that if he gives him what he wants then the glory nights last witnessed when Faustino Asprilla tore Barcelona apart will be just around the corner.

To get there, Ashley must trust his manager, let him use his contacts and profile in the game — and there are three players in particular I’d love to see Benitez go for.

(Image: Allsport)

They are Cesc Fabregas , John Terry and Jermain Defoe , who would all do a sensational job at St James’ Park.

Fabregas, in particular, is the sort of player the Toon Army would adore. He’d be the perfect signing for Benitez.

Rafa needs a quality No.10 to play behind Dwight Gayle and another new striker, and if I were Benitez I’d be saying, ‘Come and play up here, like Kevin Keegan did all those years ago. Be a big hero for 52,000 home fans, weave your magic and they will sing your name.’

(Image: Getty)

The Spanish midfielder would love the area, the supporters would love him and he could be a proper leadership figure at a football club for once in his life.

Yes, he was made captain at Arsenal, but that was too soon for him. Now, at age 30 he could set the tempo of every Newcastle game.

Fabregas has been a very impressive impact substitute for the champions-elect and is set to win a title medal, but a player of his quality should be playing week in, week out.

Then there is Terry.

If Benitez is feeling really bold, he should try for the former England captain.

(Image: Getty)

The pair had their issues when they were together at Stamford Bridge a few years ago, but football people have short memories when it suits them and this would be a great move for both men.

Whether or not Benitez could convince Defoe to move down the road from bitter rivals Sunderland remains to be seen, but alongside Gayle he could do very well.

Managers of promoted clubs always used to make these sorts of signings and so often it worked out well for them.

(Image: ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)

Players would be reinvigorated by a move, and imagine what the likes of Gayle and Matt Ritchie would learn from being around that trio.

With their current squad, Newcastle could maybe, just maybe, nick into the top half in a good season. But they could also struggle, like other recently-promoted teams Middlesbrough, Crystal Palace and Burnley have done.

With those three players, however, the building blocks would be well in place for the Magpies to become a Premier League force once more.

poll loading Where will Newcastle finish this season? 13000+ VOTES SO FAR European places Top half, not in Europe Bottom half, but safe Relegated again

SIGN UP TO LISTEN TO CALL COLLYMORE THROUGH STAN'S NEW APP ATcollymore.com