Jonjo Shelvey has revealed that Eddie Howe has brought a 'real togetherness' to Newcastle United as the Magpies' midfielder urged his team-mates to 'keep listening' to the head coach.
Newcastle were five points from safety when Howe was appointed last November, but the black-and-whites have since pulled clear of danger.
Although there is still a lot of work to do to stay up, Newcastle are currently four points clear of the relegation zone and Howe's side could even leapfrog Brentford into 14th place with a win against the out of form Bees on Saturday.
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Newcastle have not lost a Premier League game since December and Shelvey has been asked what Howe has changed to bring about an upturn in results.
"He just has a real togetherness," Shelvey told the BBC.
"The sessions are long, intense, but they're just benefitting every one of us so we've just got to maintain it and keep listening to the gaffer and we'll get there."
An exhausted Shelvey had to go to bed at 8pm in Howe's first week at the club, but the playmaker has been among those who have impressed since the head coach came in.
Indeed, for all the new signings Newcastle made last month, perhaps, what has been most striking is how so many survivors from the Ashley era have thrived under Howe.
Fabian Schar, Joelinton, Joe Willock, Ryan Fraser and Shelvey have all caught the eye of late after relishing a change in approach.
"I just feel like we're on the front foot more and there's a real togetherness in our play," Shelvey added. "I think you're starting to see that in the performances.
"There's a togetherness around the city and there's a real belief in the dressing room so we've just got to keep doing what we're doing and worry about ourselves, and I'm sure we'll climb the table."
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