[SairBabi92]

X Factor winner Leon Jackson is "virtually guaranteed" to land the Christmas No 1 spot at the weekend.

The Scottish star's debut single When You Believe is on course to sell around 250,000 copies by Sunday - as much as the top 10 combined.

When You Believe will also be the fastest-selling single of the year despite the controversy surrounding Leon's win over Rhydian Roberts on the ITV show.

Katie Melua and the late Eva Cassidy are expected to reach number two in the Christmas countdown with a cover of What A Wonderful World.

Third place will either go to the old Pogues and Kirsty MacColl hit Fairytale Of New York, which was given a boost by the furore surrounding Radio 1's ill-fated decision to censor the lyrics, or Leona Lewis's Bleeding Love.

HMV's Gennaro Castaldo said: "Leon is selling incredibly well, particularly in Scotland and the North.

"He's definitely on target to sell at least 250,000, possibly 300,000 copies, which will make it the fastest-selling single of the year.

"He's selling as much as the top 10 combined and is virtually guaranteed to land the No 1."

Leon's single, originally released by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, was already at No 1 in the mid-week charts on the strength of downloads alone.

X Factor winner Shayne Ward took the Christmas Number One in 2005 with That's My Goal followed a year later by Leona Lewis with A Moment Like This.

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