December crucial for us - Martin

MARTIN Dubravka says the packed fixture programme in December will decide whether Newcastle are battling relegation this season – or can aspire to match last season’s top-10 finish.

Dubravka is away with Slovakia on international duty – and he told media in his home country that he was never worried about Newcastle’s form.

Dubravka’s performances against Watford and Bournemouth helped Benitez’s side to climb from 20th to 14th in the Premier League table in the space of two transformative weeks at St James’ Park. Although Salomon Rondon and Ayoze Perez delivered the winning goals, United’s defensive strength in both games was key.

Dubravka told Ujszo: “I’m very happy to win the last two games.

“All we were missing was luck most of the time. The last two games that has improved and we have become more stable at the back and getting the results that our performances deserve.”

United take on West Ham, Everton, Wolves, Fulham, Huddersfield, Liverpool and Watford in December, hoping to maintain their recent improvement.

He added: “It is said that in the Premier League, December is the decisive month when deciding which teams can fight for the top of the table and which teams are trying to avoid relegation.

“I’m also curious about December now the team is in good shape and the points have come. Personally, I’m going to look at it match by match and hope we can take care of as many of the games in the interim as possible.”

Dubravka also gave a ringing endorsement of Rafa Benitez’s credentials. “I feel very good about the manager and I feel Rafa Benitez’s confidence, which is very important for a player,” he said. “Every single player is trying in every single training session to prove to the coach, every single day and in every single training session, that they deserve a place in the starting XI.”