Rafael Benitez’s Newcastle United have made a decent start to life in the Sky Bet Championship following their disappointing relegation from the top-flight last season.

The Magpies have picked up seven wins from their first 11 league matches, including a run of five straight victories from the middle of August to the middle of September.

A lacklustre performance in the home defeat to Wolves followed, but since that loss Benitez’s side have picked up seven points from a possible nine to sit third in the table, three points adrift of leaders Huddersfield Town.

Although Newcastle got relegated last season, their North East rivals Sunderland avoided the drop under Sam Allardyce.

Former Man United and Everton boss David Moyes took over at the Stadium of Light following Allardyce’s appointment as England manager (which lasted all of 67 days), but the Black Cats have once again struggled to get going in the league, and are winless in their first seven games.

Newcastle have a very talented squad, arguably as strong if not stronger than the one that went down, and there are a few players who’d get into the Sunderland team to help keep them in the Premier League.

Here are THREE that would do just that…

Jonjo Shelvey

Moyes’ side are in desperate need of someone who is going to take the game by the scruff of the neck, and take it to the opposition.

This is something Jonjo Shelvey has done effectively in the past.

The England international, who made five appearances for his country last year, showed during his time at Swansea City and, to a lesser extent, at Liverpool that he’s a player who can control the game from the midfield.

The combination of footballing ability and aggression – he’s been booked 10 times in each of the last two seasons – is something which seems to be missing from Sunderland at the moment.

Matt Ritchie

Sunderland are missing some creativity in the midfield in the early stages of the season and, with Newcastle’s Matt Ritchie proving what he can do in the Premier League with Bournemouth last season, he’d be a massive boost to the Black Cats.

The 27-year-old had a hand in 10 of Bournemouth’s Premier League goals last season, scoring four and creating six others, which may not seem like a lot, but when you’re a team near the bottom of the table, every goal is vital.

With someone like Jermain Defoe leading the line, Ritchie’s pace and trickery could really make a difference in the final third.

Dwight Gayle

Sunderland are too reliant on Defoe getting the goals to claw them out of trouble – their second highest scoring striker last season was Fabio Borini with just five.

Defoe is one of the most clinical strikers in the division, but at times appears isolated upfront on his own.

They need someone to step in and help him, and Newcastle’s Dwight Gayle would be the perfect partner for the former England international.

The 25-year-old made the switch to the North East from Crystal Palace in the summer, a surprise to many, given the way he adapted to life in the Premier League when he joined the Eagles in 2013.

Gayle is strong and pacey, and also links up well with his teammates, either getting the ball wide to the wingers, or bringing the central midfielders into play.

He’s scored goals in the top-flight before, and could well strike up a partnership with Defoe that would keep Moyes’ side in the top-flight.