Newcastle United looked dead and buried before Christmas but a £95million splurge in the January transfer window and a nine game unbeaten run has helped to completely change their fortunes around, with the Magpies now having an outside chance of a top half finish.
In just 17 Premier League matches, Eddie Howe ’s side have gone from rock bottom of the table and six points adrift of safety to 15th in the league and 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
And Magpies no.1 Martin Dubravka has revealed a dressing room insight into how his side have managed to turn their season around after looking like guaranteed failures this season.
Newcastle failed to win any of their first 14 league fixtures and had just one victory after 20 games, leading many to believe a Great Escape would be needed, but Dubravka reveals the players only ever had one outlook on things, telling Chronicle Live : "We've only ever looked at it one way. Where we were and where we are now. We're enjoying our time.
"If we play like we know we can, like Wolves, by the time Burnley on the last day comes we will be safe. We just want to give something back to the fans. They have served up an incredible atmosphere. They enjoy St James' Park from the first minute. By the time Burnley is here on the last day, everything is done and we can enjoy it."
That nine-game unbeaten run, stretching two-and-a-half months and bringing six victories, completely turned their season around. Howe will take huge credit for reviving his team, but the players also deserve their fair share of plaudits for the way they have responded.
Can Newcastle go on to achieve a top half finish this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
Dubravka himself missed Newcastle’s first 10 games of the season, but has started each of the following 19 fixtures to play a big part in his side’s turnaround in form, helping to keep five clean sheets along the way. However, the Magpies aren’t mathematically safe just yet.
But the chances of them still going down are very slim, while they could even draw closer to the top half if they beat Leicester this weekend. Dubravka said: "We just want to win our next game. It's always our mentality: 'Prepare well for the next game'. Not looking too far ahead.
“It's in our hands now. And we've shown the quality we have. OK, we could probably be controlling the game a bit more, and create more chances but that's sometimes what the Premier League can be like. You have to defend more and adapt when games get tight. We did that against Wolves and we're happy."
Should they win against the Foxes on Sunday, it would virtually guarantee them their top flight status for another season, and when they achieve that, you’d expect the Magpies to potentially take their foot off the gas a little for their remaining six games.
But it is unlikely that the high expectations will end there, and the St. James’ Park faithful will be very aware that a top half finish is achievable if they keep winning, as the season’s relegation fears quickly turn into top 10 ambitions for Dubravka and co.
The Slovakian said: “The preparations are always geared towards the next opponent. We want to play our football for the fans, that's what we look at. We're now in a position where we don't have to think solely about the relegation battle. Yes, we are still there but we are also enjoying the moment again.”
