James Perch intends to cause Newcastle manager Alan Pardew a problem - by training harder than ever in a bid to keep his first-team place.
Defender insists he will not sulk if he is dropped for the Stoke visit
James Perch intends to cause Newcastle manager Alan Pardew a problem - by training harder than ever in a bid to keep his first-team place.
The 26-year-old utility player has been part of the first team in recent weeks after an injury to the combative midfielder Cheick Tiote following a brief spell at centre-back covering for Fabricio Coloccini.
The Ivory Coast man, though, has shrugged off his hip injury and could be back for the game against Stoke on Saturday, while Coloccini has fully recovered from his hamstring problem as the battle for places hots up.
Perch has fought his way from the reserves to being one of Newcastle's better performers this season after an indifferent start to his time at the club.
And if he does see himself relegated to the bench in the next game Perch insists it will only act to spur him on to try harder in training.
"Whether I'm in the side or not in the side, I'll still work as hard as I possibly can," he told
The Journal. "That is the same for all of the lads, it is why we are doing as well as we are.
Work rate
"In the dressing room we have just got a good, honest bunch of lads. We all work for each other, no matter who is injured, who is out of the side or whatever.
"No matter what the team is, we all know what the gaffer wants from us. The bare minimum is work rate and that is what we give the manager no matter what.
"I moved up here 18 months ago and even when I wasn't playing last year and people were saying to me 'You must hate it up there' I was loving it.
"I love the place, I love the town, the beaches and everything about it. Even though I wasn't enjoying my football I love the place and I love the club."
A win against Stoke will keep Newcastle in the hunt for a Champions League spot, two points ahead of Chelsea who face a tricky trip to Arsenal.
But Perch was eager to play down any talk of continental football next season despite their excellent run of five wins over Easter.
"We are not thinking about the Champions League or Europe or anything," Perch added.
"We're just happy to be here but we just don't want to let ourselves down now. I know it's a cliche but we're taking every game as it comes.
"We need to grasp the opportunity that we've been given but the way we do that is just by winning games and not letting ourselves get swept away by what is being said about us."
