London: Rafael Benitez’s bid to lead Newcastle back into the Premier League will start with an opening weekend trip to Fulham as the Championship fixtures for the 2016-17 season were revealed on Wednesday. Benitez was unable to stop Newcastle crashing out of the top-flight in his brief spell as manager in the closing weeks of the season. But the former Real Madrid and Liverpool boss ignored a clause in his contract that allowed him to leave St James’ Park in the event of relegation and has set his sights on promotion from the second tier. Newcastle will be under pressure to secure an immediate return to the elite and they kick off at Fulham’s Craven Cottage on Friday on August 5.