Mathie played for Newcastle under Kevin Keegan, and later in his career had a loan spell at tonight's opponents Preston North End.
And the Scot – who will forever be remembered on Tyneside for his wonder goal against Sheffield Wednesday – is backi
ng Chris Hughton's side to come out on top at Deepdale – and go on to claim automatic promotion.
"I always thought they'd be up there challenging – they've got too much quality," Mathie told the Gazette. "They've got Kevin Nolan and people like that.
"I was at Ipswich when they won 4-0 – it was men against boys. They've got a very strong squad.
"They've got the two young lads up front – Andy Carroll and Nile Ranger – who work hard for the team and, with their experience, they're going to do very well.
"I saw Carroll when he played on loan for Preston, and he did very well. Those two might not score a lot of goals, but they create a lot of space for other people, like Nolan.
"They'll be up there. Their formation's very good – they've got a good foundation.
"The key players are still there. Alan Smith's a leader, and the team's got too much for the Championship.
"I played for Preston under David Moyes, and it's a lovely club. It's a great club to play for, but I think Newcastle will have too much for them.
"Even Middlesbrough haven't got the experience Newcastle have got. West Brom are playing some really good football, and I think it will be between them and Newcastle."
Newcastle United must return to the Premier League any which way they can – even if it means winning "ugly", according to John Anderson.
Chris Hughton's side go into tonight's game against Preston North End at Deepdale one point adrift of leaders West Bromwich Albion.
United, by their own admission, have not always been able to play the kind of football the club's fans demand, but Anderson – who played for both Newcastle and Preston – knows supporters won't be complaining as long as they get the job done.
And he points to the last time Chris Hughton's side played on a Monday night – the visit to Sheffield United three weeks ago which saw them grind out a 1-0 win – as evidence that the Championship's about results, and not performances.
"We've got to be beating the likes of Preston, and there'll be no complaints if we do it ugly," said Anderson. "You go back to Sheffield United and look what they did that night – it doesn't matter how you win.
"We haven't won playing the type of football supporters would like to see, but the main thing is getting out of this division, whether that's by winning games ugly, or whatever."
