Being united as a squad is reason we are heading for top
HANLEY SAYS MAGPIES ALL STRIVING FOR SAME GOAL
GRANT Hanley has revealed how the togetherness in the Newcastle United dressing room is the main reason a Premier League place is almost in their grasp.
The Scotland international arrived from Blackburn Rovers last summer for £5.6m, but his appearance on Saturday at St Andrew’s was only his third league start for United.
Hanley, who put in a solid display alongside Jamaal Lascelles, now has the chance to impress, as Ciaran Clark is out injured with a knee problem.
When asked if he was ready to take his chance, Hanley told the Chronicle: “This season has been tough for me personally.
“I have not played as much as I’d like to.
“I’m not alone in that, but what I would say about this, is the club here and the group of lads, we all go out and we pull in the same direction.
“There is no bitterness among the lads – we are all fighting together. The competition for places is making us better players.
“That is a massive positive for us and our end goal is promotion.”
However, he admitted he was a little downbeat after failing to emerge with a win against the Blues.
The 25-year-old said: “I suppose it’s disappointing we didn’t get the three points.
“We feel like we had done enough.
“It’s also important, though, to make sure when you come away to places like this that you don’t get beaten.”
Indeed, the draw meant that Newcastle move one point ahead of Brighton – who lost to Leeds United – and seven points ahead of Huddersfield, who flunked at Bristol City in a 4-0 loss at Ashton Gate.
Hanley reflected: “Every point is important – especially when it is so tight at the top of the league.
“As much as we are disappointed to not come away with three points, we might look back and it could be a really good point for us.”
Hanley also felt that nobody should be shocked by Huddersfield’s heavy defeat on Friday night. He went on: “It’s no surprise because it’s been like that from day one in this league.
“Every game you go into you know it’s going to be a fight and teams are going to be difficult to beat and be organised.
“We are no strangers to that, especially away from home like Birmingham, it will always be tough.”
Hanley now teams up with Scotland for the international break with a home game on Wednesday night to come against Canada at Easter Road in Edinburgh before a game with Slovenia at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
By the time Newcastle return for their April 1 game with Wigan Athletic, Hanley expects everybody to be refreshed and focused on the last push for promotion.
Hanley said: “When we come back from the international break, we have a month and a bit at the back end of the season, the business end of the season.
“This will give some of the lads a chance to recover a bit.
“Players will come back from injury too. We can have a break and come back fully focused.”