Ciaran Clark says Newcastle can't get complacent in Championship

Ciaran Clark warned Newcastle United against complacency ahead of their '10 in 10' clash at Wigan Athletic on Wednesday evening.

Newcastle currently sit second in the Sky Bet Championship but know a win over Wigan, which is live on Sky Sports 1 HD, will see them return to the top of the table.

Despite slipping to two league defeats before their resounding 4-0 win over Birmingham, Newcastle remain in a strong position to secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

Newcastle defender Clark however, urged caution in their bid for promotion, insisting there are no certainties in football.

"Every player wants to be in the best leagues in the world and obviously the Premier League is one of them," Clark told Sky Sports News HQ.

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"The fact that we're winning games and the position that we're in obviously helps. Fans are enjoying watching us play and it gives us a massive boost.

"It's just an enjoyable place to be at the minute - at training and the ground. All we have to do is keep it going. We can't get complacent because we've done nothing yet."

Having come through the ranks at Aston Villa, Clark was initially part of a first team that was fighting for a place in Europe, but fortunes soon turned and the Midlands club found themselves batting to stay in England's top tier.

And after four seasons of avoiding relegation, Villa eventually succumbed to the inevitable, with Newcastle and Norwich also dropping to the Championship.

Clark sought a new challenge and headed to the North East on a five-year deal in August, and the Irishman admitted he is enjoying that winning feeling.

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"To come to Newcastle was massive for me," Clark added. "The quality that is here, looking at that you think we're going to have a right go this season - and we've done that so far.

"But it takes more than just quality players, it needs a strong bond between the lads and a good attitude. And I think we've been showing it so far."

While Newcastle have kept nine clean sheets in 20 league games, it is the exploits of Dwight Gayle up front that has helped the club become odds-on favourites for promotion.

The striker is the current Championship top scorer with 16 goals in 16 games, and Clark puts that down to the 25-year-old's attitude.

"We've got a number of strikers that can play and all pose different threats. Dwight's movement is top notch, he finds space and he's really clever," Clark said.

"I've noticed that in training as the other defenders have. When he gets it in front of goal he isn't afraid to pull the trigger and he'll keep getting chances.

"If he doesn't score it doesn't affect him. He'll keep going and going. And eventually he will bang one in - he's been on fire this season and hopefully he can keep going."