No festive cheer so no squad party

NEWCASTLE United players accept they must take responsibility for the club’s disastrous form, insists Rob Elliot.

The Magpies squad were due to remain in London following Saturday’s trip to the Emirates but opted to cancel their Christmas party.

Though the decision was taken before Newcastle succumbed to an eighth defeat in nine matches and slipped into the relegation zone, Elliot stresses there are more pressing things for the players to be concerned.

He said of the cancelled festivities: “It was a decision we made because it is not right to go out and celebrate.

“I think there are more important things to worry about.

“We have great togetherness, so I think it is an appropriate time when the club is not where we want to be that we knuckle down and we think about football, concentrate solely on that and make sure every focus is on the game.

“It showed against Arsenal that I don’t think you can question the commitment or the effort of the players. Hopefully, we can push on with that and have a good Christmas and January.”

Mesut Ozil’s sublime first-half volley gave Arsenal a 1-0 victory over Newcastle on Saturday, the inexperienced United side showing naivety at times when they failed to take opportunities.

Alongside captain Jamaal Lascelles – who is only 24 – goalkeeper Elliot is one of the senior voices in the dressing room, and the 31-year-old accepts he must help the youthful squad.

“I have to take more responsibility in that area, definitely,” Elliot replied when asked if he was taking on a leadership role in the dressing room.

“Along with Jamaal, who has been excellent since coming back, we have to make sure we are helping the young lads along because it is easy to become disheartened.

“When you come to a club like Newcastle, when we have such an amazing following, you don’t lose on a Saturday and then nobody thinks about it until the following week – it is every day and every minute.

“We need to make sure we take care of that responsibility because that is part of playing for the club, not just on the pitch but off it as well.”