By Craig Hope

WITH a maximum return from their last four outings, Chris Hughton hopes that his league leaders can carry that winning momentum into the business end of their Championship promotion campaign.

United have long since banished the memory of last month's defeat at Derby County with a points-laden charge that has seen them open up a bit of breathing space between themselves and rivals West Brom and Nottingham Forest.

And with just seven weeks until the season curtain call at Queens Park Rangers, Hughton feels The Magpies could be building a head of steam at just the right time.

"We are in very good shape at the moment; both in terms of our position in the table and current form," he said.

"Momentum is very important and we've seen that earlier in the season with the seven straight wins we enjoyed.

"We're approaching a run of games now where they're going to start coming thick and fast and to have a head of steam going into them will be very important.

"We've got four wins and a draw now on the back of the game at Derby and I have to say the response once again has been terrific.

"We've been consistent this season and that is why we're top, another run of consistent results over these next seven weeks should see us achieve our objective of promotion.

"It's one game at a time, though, and Middlesbrough on Saturday is our next challenge.

"It won't be easy, no game is, but they've won their last three at home and will be buoyed by that.

"But we're back to winning ways on the road as well, after the Watford win, and it promises to be a good game."