Benitez has challenged Newcastle to maintain their momentum in order to provide a platform for Premier League survival

The Magpies travel to Burnley on Monday evening having worked their way into eighth place in the table thanks to last weekend's hard-fought 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

A return of 14 points from their first nine games has made for an encouraging start to life back in the top flight and while the degree of difficulty will increase before the turn of the year, Benitez is hoping his players can ride the wave a little further.

He said: "It's really important to start well because you will play with more confidence and you never know. You could see Leicester when they won the title, they started with confidence and you couldn't stop them.

"It's a very good thing for us and if we can keep the momentum... We will try to do it."

Like Newcastle, fellow promoted teams Brighton and Huddersfield have also adapted quickly to life in the Premier League, with Benitez citing unity on and off the pitch as a significant factor.

He said: "The Championship and the Premier League is obvious, but it's true that maybe these three teams have people - players, managers, staff, everybody - behind the team, well-organised and working as a team.

"Maybe that is the key to being successful in a division where you have players with a lot of quality."

The Magpies are one place and as many points better off than their hosts on Monday, although they know extending that gap will prove a challenge despite the Clarets having won only one of their four home league games to date.

Benitez said: "It's an interesting thing that one year, you are really good at home and the year after, you are much better away.

"But it means also that they know the division and they know how to cope with the pressure when they play away.

"It could be also the other teams know how they play at home and they are stronger, so hopefully we can be as strong."