Source: Daily_Mail
Newcastle United winger Guitierrez says survival is the goal
Newcastle winger Jonas Gutierrez has insisted Barclays Premier League survival must be the only target as a traumatic first season in England for the Argentinian reaches its crunch point.
The 26-year-old could be forgiven for wondering exactly what he signed up for in the wake of the drama which has followed his arrival from Real Mallorca last summer.
Kevin Keegan's departure, owner Mike Ashley's later-revoked decision to sell the club, Joe Kinnear's health problems and the injury crisis which has helped to plunge the Magpies deep into relegation trouble have given Jonas a crash-course in just what life at St James' Park can be like.
However, as he and his team-mates prepare for tomorrow's crucial trip to Bolton, all that will be put to one side.
He said: 'There have been many changes, which can be difficult, but we know what we have now is what we are going to have for the rest of the season, so we don't have to think about that.
'We can think only about playing football and winning matches.
'For the club, it's been a difficult season, but we have to do the best in the last matches, and then we can think about next season.'
Jonas' own situation has not been without its difficulties - Newcastle are currently trying to reach a settlement with Mallorca over his transfer amid a dispute over his decision to terminate his contract, and that could cost them millions of pounds.
He too has fallen victim to the plague of injuries which have hampered the club through the campaign to date.
However, his form since his return has been good and has coincided with a three-game unbeaten run which has eased the Magpies five points clear of the drop zone.
The addition of Kevin Nolan - he will miss out against his former club as he starts a three-match ban following his dismissal in last weekend's 0-0 draw with Everton - plus Ryan Taylor and Peter Lovenkrands has also had a positive effect despite the departures of Shay Given and Charles N'Zogbia.
But the next three home games are against Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea, and with trips to Bolton and Hull to come in between, the next few weeks could have a major say in the destiny of Newcastle's season.
Jonas said: 'We now have five matches which are going to be very important for us - they are the most important matches of the season.
'The players who have come in the last month are very good. All the team is together, and that is very important.
'We need confidence and we need to take three points in the next match.'
Caretaker boss Chris Hughton will be in charge once again at the Reebok Stadium having already enjoyed better fortunes in the role than he did the first time he was asked to step up.
The Magpies lost all four games for which he was at the helm in the immediate aftermath of Keegan's exit in September, but this time they have recorded a victory at West Brom and the draw against Everton.
He will hope to add to that promising initial return tomorrow, but knows the stakes are equally high for Bolton, who head Newcastle by just two points.
Hughton said: 'It seems that every game that comes up is as big as, if not bigger than, the last one. That's the way the league is at the moment.
'We are starting to get just a little bit of consistency in the group of lads we have got.
'We have been able to get some back from injury, which is very pleasing, we have got some not too far away and if we don't pick up too many injuries over the next few weeks, the squad probably will be as good as it has been at any stage this season.
