Boss is all too aware of the threat posed by Chelsea's talented frontman Pedro

NEWCASTLE

- By SEAN MCCORMACK

United head into today’s lunchtime's Premier League clash with Chelsea knowing they need to win to kickstart their league campaign. Last weekend's defeat to Sunderland not only dented the club’s pride but it also left them floundering in the bottom half of the Premier League table.But such is the congested nature of the standings, Newcastle are still only six points off the top four and things can change very quickly if they can string a positive run of results together.

The window to do that is closing, though, and the Blues head to Tyneside in that fourth position. A win for Newcastle moves them within three points of Enzo Maresca’s side. Defeat leaves them nine points behind and beginning to be cut adrift from the European places.