Aaron Hughes insists that Shay Given's supreme confidence holds the key to Newcastle's continued success as United bid to establish themselves as genuine top-four contenders.

The Magpies travel to Charlton today determined to shed their tag as inconsistent also-rans in an increasingly wide-open title race.

Hughes is adamant that Given's unflappable form in recent weeks has laid the foundation for a genuine top-four challenge and believes the Irishman's influence is widening.

"Shay is in the best form of his career and he can only get better," concluded Newcastle's right-back and a player who knows United's current number one better than most.

"Every time a shot heads towards our goal I believe he will save it and you can't put into words the effect that has on the rest of us.

"It's the same as when a striker is in the middle of a run and everything he touches turns to goals.

"Shay has given all of us immense confidence in the last few weeks and he is one of the major factors behind our solid start to the season.

"Things are going exceptionally well for him and it's no coincidence that the team as a whole is improving."

Given has conceded just 25 goals in 19 games this season and a run of four clean sheets in his last eight appearances has mirrored the general improvement in Newcastle's form.

Steve Harper's sporadic, yet faultless, first team forays have forced the former Blackburn keeper to maintain his high standards and few players would be deemed good enough to keep the Easington-born shot-stopper at bay. While Given thrives on the day-to-day challenge laid down by his friend and team-mate, he will go into today's showdown against international rival Dean Kiely with equal relish.

Hughes is in no doubt about who he believes to be the Republic of Ireland's number one, but he knows how much a good result will mean to his colleague this weekend.

"We have reached the situation now where London teams raise their game against us and nobody wants to be the first side to lose a match against Newcastle," added the Northern Ireland defender as he demonstrated the enormity of the task facing United.

"We're past caring about the London thing, even if it is bound to dominate the build-up to every match in the capital.

"As far as we're concerned we could be playing anywhere in the world this weekend.

"Our attitude doesn't change and we are no more or less determined to take all three points."

Charlton took six points from Newcastle last season and those two defeats still rankle with United's manager and players.

Hughes is no different, and he added: "They made life very difficult for us last season. They beat us at St James's Park and were even tougher to break down at their place.

"They're not having such a good time of it this season, so perhaps it's a good time to play them. Then again, they'll look at our record in London and believe they can kickstart their season!

"The first 20 minutes of any game are vital. Both teams always try to set their stalls out, but Charlton will believe that if they can score in that period then we'll be dead and buried.

"We'll just have to score first and show then that we're a tougher nut to crack."

Hughes has made a seamless transition from centre-half and emergency left-back to right-back this season and remains a vital member of Robson's squad.

The Newcastle manager values his young defender highly and feels his back line is a stronger unit with the Ulsterman involved.

"What I like about Aaron is that he's a natural defender and a multi-faceted player," said Robson. "He excelled at left-back towards the end of last season, he can play centre-half when we need him in there and now he's making a case for himself as a right-back."