Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini admits St James' Park is a happy place at the moment.

The Magpies headed into the break for international matches sitting proudly in fourth place in the Barclays Premier League table.

However, Coloccini knows there could be bigger tests ahead.

He said: "We are happy because we are working well and things are coming right for us.

"The team spirit is different to last season. When you start well, everything is good, everyone is happy. It's different.

"We will find out more when we have some bad times. But now the spirit is fantastic.

"We have some good people in the changing room and I think that's the key for us to keep winning and playing well."