Perez vows to keep on working

Ayoze Perez told of his joy after ending a barren run in front of goal.

A strike from Perez gave Newcastle United a 1-0 win over Watford on Saturday.

Perez – who had come off the bench after being left out of Rafa Benitez’s starting XI –headed a Ki Sung-yueng free-kick past Ben Foster to give the club its first win of the season.

“It’s been a couple of tough weeks, but the team stuck together,” said Perez. “We’ve been working a lot to feel what we are feeling.

“This is a great feeling. We have to keep this winning feeling.

“We just stick together. We are all together. Even when we’re struggling, we have to be together.

“It gives us a lot of confidence. We have been working hard.”

Benitez had vowed to “protect” Perez before the game amid criticism from some fans.

And the 25-year-old – who was sent on late in the first half after Yoshinori Muto suffered an injury – admitted that he had worked even harder in training in an attempt to rediscover his form in front of goal.

“I’m really happy to score again,” said Perez. “It’s a great feeling. “It hasn’t been an amazing time for myself, but I have been working even more.

“I think it’s because of my personality. I don’t really talk too much, I don’t complain about anything. I just keep going, and at the end I think that sometimes pays off.”