Shola Ameobi thanked Joe Kinnear for getting his Newcastle United career back on track. The 27 year old has scored two goals and won a penalty in his last three games, ending a two-year drought in style.

"Joe's come in and put self-belief back into my game," Ameobi told the Gazette. "It's great for me to be back out there working hard and playing well.

"I admire what Joe's done, not just for me, but for the whole squad.

He's just come in and said 'regardless of what's gone on, we have to just fight and be a team', and that's certainly what we've done. We've got to keep doing it if we're to get ourselves out of the position we're in.

"He's shown that belief in me, and it's great for me personally.