Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew has hinted Danny Guthrie is playing his way to a new contract.
The former Liverpool midfielder almost moved to Nottingham Forest in January.
Pardew told the club's website: "Danny is not Cheik (Tiote) - he won't break up play or perhaps get around the pitch like Cheik does.
"But what he will do is pass the ball, and he will pass it with real quality. I think one of the keys to the game is Danny getting on the ball and passing the ball well for us."
