United have won their last two matches - a 4-1 victory at Reading and an excellent 2-0 success against Aston Villa at St. James' Park on Friday night.

And Hunter - who scored his first goal of the season against the Villans - admits the Magpies wish they could keep on playing, having seemingly hit their stride over the last couple of weeks.

"Friday was probably the best we’ve played all season, considering how high up they were in the league," the midfielder told nufc.co.uk.

"I thought we dominated from start to finish and got the result we deserved.

"They were a strong team but we know on our day we can beat anyone in the league, but we haven't always shown that this season."

Fulham are in seventh place but could still make the play-offs, just as they did last season when they lost to the Magpies at the semi-final stage. Kick-off at Newcastle's Little Benton Academy is at 1pm (BST).

"They're a strong team - it's always a tough game against Fulham," said Hunter. "We beat them in the semi-final last year and hopefully we can do the same again this time around.

"It doesn't feel like the season should be ending - I don't think we’re ready for it to end yet. But we've just got to go into it and try to win again."

After Monday's game, Newcastle's second-string face Morpeth Town in the final of the Techflow Marine Northumberland Senior Cup at St. James' Park on Wednesday, 2nd May (kick-off 7.30pm BST).