Recently by Luke Edwards
STEVEN Taylor believes the secret to Newcastle United's success this season is they are constantly looking forward, rather than dwelling on the past as they did last term.
Steven Taylor
As part of the team relegated from the Premier League last May, Taylor is well placed to observe the changes since. Being sidelined since January by a knee injury has given him a more detached view of the transformation.
The 24-year-old was given a fillip this week when he was named the city's Sports Personality of the Year by Sport Newcastle. The award reflects the supporters' gratitude that the academy product did not abandon ship after relegation, and how the Magpies have regained their affection after demotion.
JONÁS Gutiérrez was delighted to finally perform his Spiderman celebration at Newcastle United, although he wished it had not been such a long wait for the moment he put on his mask.
Gutiérrez scored only his second goal for United in the 6-1 thrashing of Barnsley at the weekend and, having refused to don the mask in protest at stories claiming he wanted to leave earlier this season, St James' Park finally got to see their superhero.
However, the Argentina international revealed the mask has paid the price for spending so many games stuffed down his shorts after giving it to the injured José Enríque as a present.
"I don't know how long the mask has been down there, but it did not smell very nice when I put it on," said Gutiérrez, who will not take the mask to the World Cup with Argentina.
"I had to do it, it has been a long wait. People were talking about it when I signed because I had worn it in Spain."
JOEY Barton is already straining at the leash to be involved in Newcastle United's promotion push following his return to full training this week.
Barton has rejoined the main group after more than six months out with a broken foot, much to the delight of his manager Chris Hughton.
Barton was expected to be one of the key figures in the Newcastle side this season before suffering yet another unfortunate injury on Tyneside and Hughton has no doubts he will improve the squad when he is fully fit.
ALAN Shearer has warned Andy Carroll that he still has to prove he is worthy of Newcastle United's famous number nine shirt after a hugely encouraging season in the Championship.
Shearer has been thrilled by Carroll's progress this season and he is confident the Gateshead-born striker will continue to improve as a player as long as he remains completely focused on his football career.
The former United captain and record goalscorer worked with Carroll during his eight-game spell as manager at the end of last season, and feels that the 20-year-old has to learn from his mistakes if he is going to become the player he should be at St James' Park.
THE need for Newcastle United to make an instant return to the top flight has been underlined by the revelation the club is losing around £500,000 a week in the Championship.
United made drastic cutbacks in the summer following relegation, but have still needed to be bankrolled by owner Mike Ashley after he failed to find a buyer. The size of United's losses makes it imperative that promotion is achieved this season or even bigger cuts will be made in order to ensure the club's survival in May.
The Journal revealed before Christmas that Ashley had loaned the club £20m to cover everyday running costs. It is understood the retail entrepreneur may put even more of his own money in before the end of the campaign because of the extent of the losses, although the books have been boosted by crowds of more than 40,000 in recent weeks.
KEVIN Nolan has called for calm in the aftermath of Newcastle United's disastrous trip to Derby County as he challenged the Magpies to give a powerful response to the end of their long unbeaten run.
Nolan was as disappointed as anyone following the shock 3-0 defeat at Pride Park on Tuesday night, but he has urged people not to blow the setback out of all proportion.
Although United's first defeat in 16 games saw them lose top spot in the Championship to West Bromwich Albion, they have a game in hand over the Baggies and still have a four-point lead over third-placed Nottingham Forest.
CHRIS Hughton has denied Newcastle United were complacent in their 3-0 defeat at Derby County last night although he refused to allow anyone to use the referee as an excuse.
Newcastle were denied a perfectly good equaliser from Andy Carroll early in the second half because of a referee's blunder, but the Magpies were well beaten in the end as they surrendered their lead at the top of the table to West Bromwich Albion for the first time in three months.
And, with just one away win in their last seven attempts, Newcastle will be under renewed pressure when they make the long trip to South Wales on Saturday to take on Swansea.
WAYNE Routledge will never have a better stage to show off his talent as Chris Hughton declared his new signing is at the perfect point in his career to become a star at Newcastle United.
Routledge's journey has been one of what might have beens and unfulfilled potential, with eight clubs in five years telling the story of a young man who has never managed to settle before his January move from QPR.
However, Routledge's performance in the destruction of Cardiff City was one of the highlights of a memorable evening and the 25-year-old has added some much needed pace and creativity to a previously pedestrian midfield.
PETER Løvenkrands has admitted he does not know how he would have coped with the death of his father if he had not received such strong support from Newcastle United as he thanked the fans for helping him through a traumatic few months.
Løvenkrands came off the bench to score twice in the brilliant 5-1 thrashing of Cardiif City on Friday night and took his tally to eight goals in 20 appearances this season to underline his importance to the side.
But it was the reaction he got when coming on to the pitch which thrilled him as he spoke for the first time about how he has struggled to cope with the loss his father, and the numbing grief which has followed.
CHRIS Hughton is convinced Newcastle United have the mental strength, as well as the ability, to win promotion as he shrugged off the growing concern surrounding the quality of his team's performances since Christmas.
Newcastle have stuttered their way through January without producing a convincing display to back up their promotion credentials and have enjoyed just one league victory since December 20 even though their unbeaten record has been stretched to 14 matches.
With West Bromwich Albion winning 3-2 at Blackpool on Wednesday night, United's lead over third place has been slashed to just four points, and they desperately need a win against in-form Cardiff City - and their former Newcastle striker Michael Chopra - tonight to settle any nerves.
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