Newcastle can return to the top of the Coca-Cola Championship if they maintain their habit of winning Monday matches.

The Magpies take on Preston at Deepdale knowing a third win on a Monday night will return them to the summit at the expense of West Brom, their Premier League rivals of last season.

Despite defeating Leicester and Sheffield United previously, however, manager Chris Hughton told the club's official website: "It's not ideal playing on a Monday and we would prefer to play at three o'clock on Saturday.

"But it's the same for both teams and by the time kick-off comes around I'm sure we'll both be raring to go.

"Our last Monday night game was at Sheffield United and that was an incredibly tough encounter and I expect this to be exactly the same.

"They're a side which has done very well over the last few seasons and are hardened to this division now.

"Alan Irvine has done a great job and he is someone I know very well and respect.

"They have both that physical threat and the ability to play football and, of course, they're very good at home.

"We know we'll have to be at our best and I'm looking for that same spirit from the Sheffield United game."

Alan Irvine celebrated two years in charge of Preston this week and believes the battle for promotion is getting harder by the season in the Championship.

"If you look at the size of the clubs who are in it I think it's more difficult to get out of now," said Irvine, who boosted his squad ahead of the visit of United with the loan signing of Michael Tonge from Stoke.

"I've spoken to two very experienced managers who've both managed at this level, as well as in the Premier League, and they say they hate the Championship - because it's such a hard division to win games in."