What’s Hot and What’s Not from New Year’s Eve’s EFL action

Championship: Hot – Newcastle United

It will be a Happy New Year for Newcastle United and their supporters.

They look on course for an immediate return to the Premier League after dispatching Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park on Friday, to leapfrog Brighton and Hove Albion at the summit.

Rafael Benitez’s buoyant Magpies have attained 52 points from 24 games played so far, having adjusted to life back into the second-tier with aplomb following relegation in May.

Shrewd summer recruitment, most notably Matt Ritchie and Dwight Gayle (Pictured), who both scored the decisive goals to defeat Forest, have proven invaluable to a side who returned to winning ways against the men from the City Ground.