Newcastle star Jonas Gutierrez targets promotion by Easter

Jonas Gutierrez has ordered Newcastle to turn the screw on their Championship rivals and get promotion virtually guaranteed by the New Year.

The Argentine winger believes a run of victories now will see the Geordies cruise away from the pack at the top and allow Chris Hughton more chance of spending in the January transfer window with the Premier League on the horizon.

Gutierrez, who broke his 45 game goals duck against Peterborough, is hoping to shake off a thigh injury before Monday’s trip to Preston.

He said: “We are able now to move on after our three wins. By Christmas and New Year I want to be comfortably top of the league.

“We are good enough not to have to go until the last couple of weeks before getting promotion.

“We should be winning most of our games. If we do that, then in a couple of months’ time we will be in an even stronger position.

“Of course, even if that happens there is still a lot of hard work to be done, but we will be very confident.”