Newcastle’s Diame will be crucial in a relegation dogfight

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Newcastle United are facing a relegation battle once again this year.

The Magpies are currently occupying 16th place in the Premier League table, one point above the drop zone.

After a brilliant 2-1 victory over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, Rafa Benitez’s side then lost to Tottenham Hotspur and drew with Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday.

It’s looking like they could struggle this time around, although last term they pulled away from danger towards the end with some big results, eventually finishing 10th.

In the eyes of Newcastle midfielder Mo Diame, the Toon Army will have enough to repeat last season’s feat.

‘The team is still fighting’

He said, as quoted by Chronicle Live: “[The belief] is important. Two weeks ago we showed that we can beat any team. It’s going to be the same. We have to fight together. We need this attitude and team spirit we had last season and this season also. It’s there, we know, and I’m pretty sure we will do it.

“I’ve been watching them from the stand. I’ve been seeing them work really hard. We got a great win against Man City. The team is still fighting, and we know that we will be fighting until the end. Now I’m here to help, and I will give everything to make sure we get our target.”

The ideal player

Diame talks about the need to fight and no one epitomises that more than he does.

The combative Senegal international is all about getting stuck in, as evidenced by his positioning of joint-ninth in the successful tackles chart (64 this season, via official Premier League statistics).

Diame will be vital for Newcastle at the business end of the season, as he has experienced relegation before with Hull City in 2016.

And having played previously for Wigan Athletic and West Ham United in the Premier League as well, he knows all about flirting with danger and surviving, meaning Newcastle really do have a key player for a dogfight.