"He has brought in nine players over the summer, five of them defenders, and transformed the back four.
"And he has so many options up front with Viduka, Martins, Owen and Smith.
"They look a potent force and the expectations there are such that they will be wanting to be in and around the European places. But we are standing in their way at the moment so it will be a great test for us."
A win for Reading would give them the same number of points that was achieved after 11 games last season. The Royals went on to finish 8th.
Coppell is trying to be realistic and view the table as it stands today.
"It is early doors. When 10 games have gone it does give a fair reflection of the league but we are where we deserve to be. We are not in the top six so we will have to get our heads down, work hard and try to achieve our goals.
"It would be a big three points on Saturday for us. We will have to earn the right to win the game against Newcastle, who are coming on slowly but surely under Sam Allardyce.
"We will have to be 100% to win the game."
Sam Allardyce