Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 live at St James' Park

The PA announcer just said "enjoy the game". The Newcastle fans won't enjoy it until they're about 3-0 up.

Preston get us under way at St James' Park.

A quick reminder of the team news. Newcastle forward Dwight Gayle misses out through injury and Magpies keeper Rob Elliot starts his first match for a year.

Tyias Browning is back in the Preston defence after his own injury problem.

Newcastle huddle before kick-off. I wonder what's being said? Where to go tonight if they win? Nah...

Newcastle United supporters have had their fair share of heroes to worship over the years.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Will somebody make themselves a hero on Tyneside tonight?

More than 50,000 people are packed into St James' Park. The teams are coming out. We are minutes away from kick-off.

It's fair to say the atmosphere will be one of my favourite words - raucous.

BBC Radio 5 live

Listen to live commentary of Newcastle v Preston on BBC Radio 5 live - click on the audio icon to listen on the BBC Sport website and app.

Ian Dennis and former England midfielder Steve Stone are your commentary team.

We're unable to stream BBC local radio commentaries of EFL matches on the BBC Sport website, but BBC Radio Newcastle and BBC Radio Lancashire are also providing live coverage of tonight's game.

Steve Stone
Former England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 live

The team changes around an awful lot. Dwight Gayle has been struggling with hamstring injuries since the turn of the year and that’s been a major worry.

It’s been a different Newcastle when Gayle hasn’t played. He’s been the difference between some of the teams that Newcastle have played.

Shay Given
Ex-Newcastle goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 live

There was huge investment and Newcastle were huge favourites (for promotion), but in recent weeks they seem to be stumbling over the line.

Rafael Benitez said to the press yesterday that it doesn’t matter how they get over the line, and hopefully they can get the win tonight.

Image source, .

As we have been telling you all so far and as you can see from the table, Newcastle will be promoted with victory this evening, despite being without a win in three.

If they don't, Huddersfield could still be promoted automatically, albeit only mathematically, rather than realistically.

But what is looking rather tasty in the Championship at the moment is the play-off race, especially given the fact Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham face each other on the final day of the season.

DJP: Will be good to have Rafa back in the PL, too good a manager for the Championship, with all due respect...

Deejay Swifty: More nervous about Newcastle winning tonight than the imminent birth of my first child. Hoping one doesn't happen during the other.

Wow - I wish you all the best with the baby!

So who have been the stars of Newcastle's season?

Image source, Rex Features

Even casual Championship fans will be fully aware of this lad's impact on the league this campaign.

Dwight Gayle decided to take the step down from the Premier League with Crystal Palace to move to St James' Park. 

Although his season has been hampered by injury, when out of the treatment room the 26-year-old forward has bagged 22 goals, the third-highest tally in the Championship.

Image source, Rex Features

The beating heart of Newcastle's play in midfield, Jonjo Shelvey has been central to the Magpies' performances at both ends of the pitch with the typical passion and drive we have come to know from the 25-year-old.

His season has been, however, somewhat soured by a five-game suspension for using racially abusive language during September's home defeat by Wolves.

But manager Rafael Benitez showed faith in Shelvey, saying on his return from the ban: "We know he is an important player for us and there are not too many players like him. Quality in the middle can make a difference."

Image source, Rex Features

There is no doubting Matt Ritchie's quality, particularly from dead-ball situations.

In 41 league matches this season, Ritchie, another to make the step down a division as a £12m summer signing from Bournemouth, has scored 11 times.

Image source, Rex Features

So what do you think of Chris Waddle's comments? Can Newcastle stay in the Premier League next season if they do manage to finish the job? Or will Preston delay the party tonight?

Let us know what you think about this, or indeed anything else, using #bbcefl on Twitter.

Just like Ayoze is... (possibly...)

Image source, Rex Features

Newcastle may be on the verge of promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, but one of their former players is already casting doubt on the top-flight chances of their current side.

"It will be interesting to see what happens over the summer," former England international Chris Waddle told BBC Radio 5 live.

"No disrespect to Newcastle, but this squad is not strong enough to compete in the Premier League.

"Rafael Benitez will know the squad is not strong enough. Will (owner) Mike Ashley say ‘yep - there’s a load more money to spend’? I can’t see it happening. 

"It will be interesting to see, if Rafa doesn’t get a fair crack at the whip and bring in new players. If he doesn’t get that, it will be interesting to see what Rafa’s decision will be (to stay on as manager or not)."

There's no Dwight Gayle in the Newcastle squad today. He's been struggling with a hamstring problem for several weeks now.

Image source, Rex Features

Gayle is chasing down Leeds striker Chris Wood as the Championship's leading goalscorer.

He's three behind Wood, who has 25, and one off Tammy Abraham's 23 tally of goals for Bristol City.

Newcastle United start defender Ciaran Clark following injury, while keeper Rob Elliot comes in for his first match of the season, in place of Karl Darlow, who drops to the bench.

There is no place in the squad for top scorer Dwight Gayle, who has been struggling with a hamstring problem.

For Preston, on-loan Everton defender Tyias Browning returns to the starting line-up after injury.

Newcastle: Elliot, Anita, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett, Ritchie, Shelvey, Hayden, Atsu, Perez, Mitrovic.

Substitutes: Darlow, Yedlin, Mbemba, Colback, Gouffran, Diame, Murphy. 

Preston: Maxwell, Browning, Huntington, Boyle, Spurr, Gallagher, Browne, Johnson, McGeady, Barkhuizen, Hugill.

Substitutes: Lindegaard, Vermijl, Horgan, Pringle, Beckford, May, Robinson.  

Image source, Rex Features

The most recent occasion these pair met each other at St James' Park it was memorable for Newcastle, and very, very forgettable for Preston.

Two goals apiece from Aleksandar Mitrovic and Mohamed Diame helped the Magpies thrash North End 6-0 in the EFL Cup in October.

Four days later, Rafael Benitez's side traveled to Deepdale and Mitrovic again proved to be the downfall of Preston, scoring another two in a 2-1 win.

Mitrovic starts again tonight...

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, Rex Features

For Preston, this will be a season of "what ifs?"

The Lilywhites only lost two league games between January and early April to put themselves into play-off contention.

But that run from mid-table came too little, too late, and having been as close as five points to the top six, they are now 15 points away following three straight defeats.

Image source, Rex Features

But what if Newcastle lose?

Well, the city's famous Bigg Market nightclubs and bars will be keeping the champagne and alcopops on ice for another day, while Gaz from Geordie Shore can be among their high-calibre clientele of the night, rather than Jamaal Lascelles and Chancel Mbemba.

Oh, you were talking about the football?

There will be a party down on the south coast instead as Brighton will be crowned champions, having already secured their place at the top table of English football.

Meanwhile, Huddersfield would still be in with the slimmest of chances of automatic promotion. However, these will evaporate if they fail to defeat Wolves on Tuesday, and Newcastle will go up anyway.

Image source, Rex Features

Newcastle don't like to spend much time in the Championship.

The last time they were in the division in 2009-10, it's fair to say they totally obliterated the competition, earning promotion with five games to spare and ending with the third-highest points tally in the league's history.

This time around, the Magpies have not been outside the automatic promotion places since 17 October, and despite being without a win in their last three games, they could secure a top-flight spot with two games to spare.

Image source, Rex Features

"The love I could feel from the fans was a big influence for me." Rafael Benitez, May 2016.

Most Champions League-winning bosses would have turned a blind eye to the offer of managing in the second tier of English football - but not Rafael Benitez.

After being unable to save Newcastle United from relegation in a rather brief spell, the Spaniard decided to forgo a break clause in his contract and sign a three-year deal at a club where the supporters had taken him right into their hearts.

His judgement appears to be vindicated and tonight could be the night a season's worth of blood, sweat and tears is crowned with promotion straight back to the Premier League.

Welcome to our live text and Radio 5 live coverage of Newcastle United v Preston North End.